I’ve really been enjoying Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn’s song “You Came Down” this Christmas season. I heard them perform it at the “Behold, the Lamb of God” concert here in Louisville a couple of weeks ago. After that, I bought it and have been listening to it ever since. It’s one that I think you will appreciate as well. It’s from their album “Christmas.” Push the play button below to preview the song, then go buy it. The single is $.99 and the album is only $8.99.

Also, one other item is worth mentioning. Phillips and Gullahorn are husband and wife, and they covered “It’s Cold Outside” on this album. Before the concert, I had already noticed that this song appeared on their album, and I was disappointed. For me, “It’s Cold Outside” ranks right up there with “Santa Baby” as one of the worst Christmas songs ever. But I didn’t listen to it when I first saw it. Little did I know that it’s a parody, and it’s pretty funny. I was delighted to hear them lampoon it at the concert. Be sure to take a listen.

Barry Joslin is a professor at Boyce College who also serves as worship pastor at Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his worship team got permission from Sovereign Grace ministries to record the song “The Son of God Came Down” and to give it away as a gift to their congregation. Barry sings and plays guitar himself on this one. It’s a great recording, and it’s certainly a great song. You can download it here or listen to it below. The lyrics are below.

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As a Christian, I am astonished that the world still sings our songs—especially ones like the Hallelujah chorus. The song proclaims the kingdom of Christ and the absolute sovereignty of God over all creation. Yet every year the world sings this song at Christmas time, and wherever it is played people stand to their feet in reverence. Can you believe that?

There are few songs that lift my heart up to heaven like the Hallelujah chorus. I can hardly make it through to the end without weeping. Of all the pieces of human culture that I hope to make it through the fires of God’s judgment to the new heavens and new earth, Handel’s Messiah is near the top my list.

I recently discovered a beautiful rendition of the song sung by thje King’s College Choir in Cambridge, England. It was so good that I thought I would share it with you. Here is a link to the YouTube version, or you can download the song from Amazon.com. Merry Christmas! Continue Reading →

Music is so much a part of this season of the year that I thought it would be worth a few posts to talk about the music that my family listens to most at Christmas time. I’m certain you’ll find some items here that you are already well-acquainted with. Perhaps there will be some other items that are new to you or that you had forgotten about and are glad to be reminded of. So for what it’s worth, here it goes. Continue Reading →

I was a big fan of Chris Thile when he was the lead singer for the bluegrass-ish band Nickel Creek. In the video below, you can see that he has recently teamed up with Yo-Yo Ma on a new single titled “Here and Heaven.” The song is part of a larger project called “The Goat Rodeo Sessions.”

I once heard Chris Thile and Nickel Creek perform live here in Louisville, Kentucky. It was a very secular venue and a very secular crowd, yet the band closed the show with one of the most beautiful renditions of “Be Thou My Vision” that I have ever heard. The band (including Chris Thile) appeared to be committed Christians.

That was then, this is now. I was sad to read recently that Thile no longer calls himself a Christian. In an interview with The Register-Guard, Thile says that if believing in Jesus as the only way to salvation is a part of being a Christian, then he is not a Christian. If you are interested, you can read the full interview here. Continue Reading →

Tim McGraw performed the classic Petra song “More Power To Ya” in 2005 for “A Concert for Hurricane Relief” sponsored by the Red Cross. This concert is mainly remembered for the infamous Kanye West tirade. I had entirely forgotten about McGraw’s performance and did not even know that this recording existed until Tim Challies pointed it out today. I am betting that I am not the only one who will be eager to hear it.

I was only able to find the recording on YouTube. If anyone out there knows an album that this is on, please leave the info in the comments. I will pass the album title on to readers if the information is forthcoming. In the meantime, you can listen to the song below.

If you enjoy singing the hymns of Indelible Grace, you might be interested to know that there is a documentary chronicling the history of Indelible Grace music and the RUF hymns. The trailer is above, and you can order the full documentary here.
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