LOOKING BACK AT '22 - FAVORITE SONGS (PART 2 OF 6)

 

Reclaim The Day, from Get To The Point Festival. Left to right - WVIU bassist of the year Logan Morehouse, drummer Tristan Harris, lead vocalist Becca Sugg, and WVIU lead guitarist of the year Marcus Sugg. Did this band have any songs on my 15 favorite songs of '22? If so, how many?

Those of you familiar with my blogs and posts know I give lists on both fiction and non-fiction books. But how about music? 

To be honest, our budget for new books and records is usually zero, so I make use of the library for my reading. I regularly get CDs from there as well, but most of the time it's classical with some music like Yanni, and for the purpose of relaxing at night (which is why I don't check out Stryper). It's recently I started listening to more recent music on Spotify (and I also plan on listening some next year to WVIU and Silent Witness Radio (click here if you missed my interview with Gothdad of SWR).

So this year, I'll list my 15 favorite songs from this past year. With my books, I don't claim my favorites were all written that year, but rather were read that year (which allows Agatha Christie and Allistair MacLean to compete against Kerry Nietz, Nancy Mehl, and Donna Fletcher Crow). The music, I'm trying to deal with '22 songs, though a '21 song might sneak in there. (For example, one of my favorite songs came out last year as a single, but was on a EP and won the WVIU award for best rock song this year, so it qualifies).

Part of the reason of these lists is to encourage the artists included, but I want to be a good dad and not show favortism, so I pick a number (often, 10 is too limited so I make sure I expand it to include all my strong favorites), and then list the entries alphabetically by title. After all, I don't want an author or musician to think, "Oh, I'm #10 on a list of 10? I just barely missed it."

Before I start, I'll state that all of these songs can be found on Spotify. There are some artists who are yet to be on Spotify that I really enjoy (e.g. True Revival Band) or have a single out this year that didn't get on Spotify yet (e.g. Worhol) that I'd love to have on the list, or a song I heard live that's not recorded yet (speaking specifically of "Relief" by Tempus Unum). Hope to see them next year!

I'll admit I haven't seen the lyrics for most of these songs, so some of those comments will be more about style. But I really enjoy each song on the list. So are you ready? (And again, the numbers don't relate to ranking.)

1. "Captain Rescue Me" by Hubbards Marsh. Hubbards Marsh consists of my good friends Gary Wixtrom and his wife Amy Shreve. Amy has several excellent albums out as well. (By the way, I'd love to interview Gary and/or Amy for the blog.) This is probably one of the mellower songs on this list.
   
2. "Fear" by Divine Martyr. I absolutely love this song, which deservedly got nominated for best rock song in the WVIU awards.
   
3. "Framing My Perception" by Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh (aka GFM Band). Some of this band's songs are a little too hardcore for me, but I especially enjoy this song. GFM consist of three sisters, for those who haven't read my interview with them.
   
4. "Future" by Undefeated. A good rock song by another family group (two sisters and a brother; definitely want to get to hear them!).
   
5. "Give Me Faith" by Becca Sugg. Becca is lead vocalist and guitarist for Reclaim The Day (pictured above), which also has other entries on this list. I think this is a song that technically is a '21 song, but I'm counting it because I just discovered it a week or two ago.
6. "God of Revival" by Forsaken Hero. I love the title of the song, and I absolutely loved the song. When I interviewed Casey Price, I learned this was a cover of a Bethel music song, but I like this version better than the original. This also got a nomination for the WVIU awards (Another band I want to hear live.)
   
7. "Mystique" by Divine Martyr. This is a unique entry on the list because it's the only instrumental. 
8. "Remnant" by Ignescent. The title definitely got my attention, because I think the American Church too often forgets God usually works through the remnant. This hard rock song is as good as the title.
9. "Send Down The Fire" by Beth Hall. This is one of two songs by Beth on Spotify, the other being a Christmas song. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more from her.
10. "Sentenced To Life" by Reclaim The Day. I fell in love with this song when I first heard it. This song was the winner for Best Rock Song in the WVIU awards.
11. "Testimony" by Hush Harbor. This song blew me away first time I heard it, and I had the privilege of hearing them do this song at the Get To The Point Festival.
12. "Truth" by Divine Martyr. Yes, the third and most recent Divine Martyr song on this list. And would you mind if I mentioned it's my favorite by them? One night last week, as I was lying half asleep, this song was going through my brain (with Bruckner's 6th symphony, 1st movement alternating with it).
13. "World Gone Mad" by Upstanding Gents. This band's music reminds me of Lifesavors and Altar Boys from the '80's. 
14. "You Chose Me" by Toni LaShaun. The most uplifting song I heard this year. Thus, I wasn't surprised when it won the award for "Songs that remind us of our purpose."
    
15. "Yours Alone" by Reclaim the Day. If you count Becca's solo song, Reclaim the Day tied Divine Martyr with most entries for this year's inaugural list.

But what will be on my list this coming year? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

LOOKING BACK AT '22 (PART 1 OF 6)

Remember this photo? Remember who this band is? And can you guess who is not part of the band?

 

Another year over with! (Almost!) So let me end the year with 8 consecutive blogs, starting yesterday.

Today's blog will have three parts:

1. I will look at my next to the last blog of last year and compare my goals with reality.
2. I will give hopefully brief opinions (anybody really expect that?) on this past year.
3. I'll give you an outline for the week of blogs.

A year ago, I told you my reading goals (a duplicate of my goal for '21): Reading one non-fiction and two fiction books a month (respectively 12 and 24) during the year. The goals were met and exceeded: 19 non-fiction and 27 fiction (not counting 3 graphic superhero novels).

On the non-fiction end, I planned on reading four more 9-Marks books: Done! I mentioned the New Studies In Biblical Theology series: I read four of those. I did reread three books: Graham Benyon's bio on Isaac Watts, Todd Nettleton's 40-day devotional When Faith is Forbidden and Todd Miles fun apologetics book Superheroes Can't Save You. 

As far as fiction, I mentioned reading more Love Inspired Supspense each year, reading 9, 11, and 18 the previous three years. Last year, I'm down for 17, one less than last year. As expected, I read books by Donna Fletcher Crow (3), Nancy Mehl (2), Kerry Nietz (2), and Janet Sketchley.

I had a goal to attend either the Kingdom Come Festival or the Pitt Fest this year, and get to hear Reclaim The Day. No, I didn't make it to either of those festivals, but I did get to Get To The Point Festival and got to hear Reclaim The Day there, as well as Inarticulate Bones which was also on my list. That concert also made me a confirmed Divine Martyr fan. I didn't make it to a NCFCA tourney last year, partly to signing up for a contest I thought was on-line and found out it was in person and had to cancel. 😭

How about the ministry opportunities Becky and I were talking about? Still talking about them. Any steps on publication? Only reading a book titled When God Calls A Writer. I also wrote the series I had planned to for the blog.

Speaking of this blog, I had great interviews again. I'm debating about mentioning any because they all were good. Four really stand out though: Libertarians Kerry Baldwin and Russell Brooksbank, author Carol Berubee, and singer/producer Jim Worthing (I really enjoy the interviews that get into theology). But I also invite you to look at the archives on the right to find any you've missed.

My thoughts of this year? It's been a sad year for several reasons. Several friends went home to be with the Lord. In a six week period, I was off work almost two weeks due to illness (one week with COVID, and most of another with flu/bronchitis). Missing some of my typical events like judging NCFCA contests or the live nativity scene at a nearby church. The political situation. But Becky and I are headed to our 40th Anniversary! I'm blessed at Northside Baptist, including a Bible study and a bi-monthly men's prayer breakfast.

How was that for brief?

What? This week's blogs? It started with part 25 of my hymn series yesterday, and will end Sunday (New Year's Day) with part 26. Today, I looked back at '22. Tuesday through Thursday will be respectively my favorite songs, fiction, and non-fiction books. Friday, I'll look ahead to '23, and I have a blog on my heart for New Year's Eve. 

P.S. In case you didn't remember, the band is Divine Martyr. Pictured right to left is drummer Mark McKowen, vocalist/celloist Olivia Guelle, guitarist Jason Hyde, bassist Woody Hughes, and non-band-member/DM fan/blog writer Jeff Reynolds.

SUNDAY HYMNS, PART 21 OF 22: HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING (MERRY CHRISTMAS)

 

"All of Creation Worships" by Jeff Reynolds

Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth and mercy mild - 

God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, 

Join the triumph of the skies;

With th'angelic host proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem."

 Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

Christ, by highest heav'n adored,

Christ, the everlasting Lord:

Late in time behold Him come, 

Offspring of a virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,

Hail th'incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with men to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

 Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

Hail the heav'nborn Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, 

Ris'n with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by, 

Born that man no more may die;

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

 Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

Come, Desire of Nations, come!

Fix in us Thy humble home;

Rise, the woman's conq'ring seed, 

Bruise in us the serpent's head.

Adam's likeness now efface,

Stamp in thine image in its place;

Second Adam from above, 

Reinstate us in Thy love.

 Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

NOTES ON HYMN

• First off, Merry Christmas! Or for you guys, Joseph Christmas! 
• How many of you following have read through the first three verses, and then pause to see a fourth you've never seen before? Growing up with the Worship & Service Hymnal, I only knew the first three.  But then I attended a church whose hymnal (Praise! Our Songs and Hymns) included the fourth verse. Cyberhymnal includes a fifth.
• This is another hymn written by Charles Wesley. I had a Calvinist joke that Wesley believed you had to earn your salvation so he made the music for this song hard to sing. Uh, not Wesley's fault. I don't know what tune they sang this to during Charles' lifetime, but he died before the composer to this song was born. That composer? Felix Mendelssohn. And do you expect Classical composers to write easy songs to sing? By the way, Mendelssohn was raised Lutheran and also composed the Reformation symphony.
• By the way, my favorite hymn word writer is Charles Wesley. My favorite classical composer is Mendelssohn. No wonder I love this song.
• This song's meter is a 7,7,7,7 double. One interesting thing? Another Wesley song, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" has a 7,7,7,7 meter, which adds a lot of "Alleluia"s ot it. So you could sing "Christ The Lord is Risen Today" to Mendelssohn's tune, dropping the alleluias and using two verses for each round. Or you can sing "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" to the tune of "Christ the Lord is Risen Today, with the alleluias and doubling the verse number. 
  

 

 

BOOK REVIEW - A CASE FOR PAULINE DISPENSATIONALISM: DEFINING PAUL'S GOSPEL AND MISSION BY CAROL BERUBEE

 What is Pauline Dispensationalism? Why the emphasis on Paul? Isn't there just one Gospel? Or is Paul's gospel different from Jesus', Peter's, John's, etc.?

I have been introduced to the concept of Pauline Dispensationalism, but Carol Berubee's book has helped me understand it better. This book clearly defines both Dispensationalism and the Pauline emphasis. Each chapter ends with a segment titled "Going Deeper," which looks at related but side issues like the authorship of Hebrews and tongues.

For those not familiar with the terms, Dispensationalism is the view that while salvation was always by grace through faith, God worked in different ages in different ways. The primary distinction made is between Israel before the cross and the Church afterward. The Pauline emphasis is based on the fact that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, which most Christians are, and so his letters have more weight on us than do the letters of Peter, James, and John, who wrote to Jewish audiences.

Berubee starts off with hermeneutics (Biblical interpretation) and then takes several chapters following God's dealings from Genesis through Acts. She then deals with differences and distinctions between Paul's ministry and that of Jesus' earthly ministry and that of the twelve.

There are some of her conclusions, particularly on side issues, that I disagree with. However, Berubee does a thorough job of presenting her case for Pauline Dispensationalism, and I would recommend the book.

BOOK REVIEW - THE BOOK OF ISAIAH AND GOD'S KINGDOM: A THEMATIC-THEOLOGICAL APPROACH BY ANDREW ABERNATHY

What should we expect when the Kingdom of God comes on earth? How does the Old Testament promises of a Davidic King and a theocracy relate to the New Testament?

The Book of Isaiah and God's Kingdom by Andrew Abernathy is the fifth book I've read in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series. This is a great intellectual book dealing with the subject, but I found it a stimulating challenge to keep up with the flow. 

One major issue in looking at Isaiah as a whole is the debate on how many Isaiahs wrote the book of Isaiah. As is usual in this series, Abernathy acknowledges the difference of opinion without alienating any of the options. 

The main point of the book is that God is the King of the earth, presented with different emphases in three sections of Isaiah (1-39, 40-55, and 56-66). While the focus is on Isaiah, Abernathy also deals with how the text fits with the rest of the Canon.

If you're ready to wrestle with deep waters of theological thinking, this book is what you're looking for.

SUNDAY HYMNS, PART 20 OF 22: COME, THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS

Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis. Note at the base of the tree are shoebox gifts. We donate these to the Metropolitan Baptist Center every Christmas, which they take to women's shelters for their children (each box has the gender and age range listed).

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, 

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, 

Let us find our rest in Thee.

 

Israel's strength and consolation, 

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation, 

Joy of every longing heart.

 

Born Thy people to deliver, 

Born a child and yet a king.

Born to reign in us forever, 

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. 

By Thine own eternal Spirit 

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit, 

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

NOTES ON HYMN

• This is an Advent hymn. By now, I think you all might know the difference between an Advent song and a Christmas song? I had chose 5 songs I wanted to use for the Advent and Christmas seasons, and putting them with the weeks seemed natural for most of them. This one is not as obvious with the theme "Adevent of Love", but it definitely fits.
  
• The tune of this song is Hyfrydol, written by Rowland Huw Pritchard. Hyfrydol is the only thing Cyberhymnal lists Pritchard writing, which I find hard to believe because of how good that tune is. The Worship & Service Hymnal included three songs besides this one with the tune, the best known of those I'd guess to be "Our Great Savior" (with the chorus, "Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a Friend!"). Additionally, it suggests this tune as an alternate for Charles Wesley's "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," and Elton Trueblood suggested this tune for a song he wrote he called "Baptism By Fire" which is printed in his excellent book "The Incindiery Fellowship." (I learned about the book when the Baptist Hymnal 1991 set the lyrics to a different tune and used the first line "God Whose Purpose Is To Kindle" as the title.
• The lyrics to this song are written by Charles Wesley. It's not unusual to see hymns with Wesley's words have music composed by musicians not yet born when Wesley died. 
• One question I have for Mr. Wesley is how many verses this song has. There are only two verses to this song, but was Wesley's original thought for a pair of verses to be set to a 8,7,8,7 Doubled tune, or a quartet set to 8,7,8,7? Honestly, looking at the words, it gives me an impression it was written with four verses. Yet combining the verses to this tune produces a beautiful song.
• Final comment: I will admit I have questions on whether Christmas trees should be on a church's platform. However, in the case of the one at Arlington Avenue Baptist Church (above photo), it also serves as a reminder of preparing shoe-box gifts for the Baptist Center where they are distributed to the children of mothers in rescue shelters. This fits Advent of Love, does it not?
  

BOOK REVIEW - RHATS TOO! (TAKAMO UNIVIERSE; THE MUTO CHRONICLES #2) BY KERRY NIETZ

 

Where did Frohlic's large family (all mutos have large families) disappear to? He barely survived his previous smuggling trip in space; did he really want to join his friend Abs for another one? Especially when facing ants and spiders that are bigger than you?

I absolutely loved Rhats Too!, the full length sequel to Kerry Nietz' novella surpisingly titled Rhats. In this edition, our muto (a cross between a human and a, believe it or not, rat) hero finds his family missing from his home, with a feisty, flirty female with a gun there instead. He also is invited by his friend Abs to join his crew another smuggling trip... along with the feisty, flirty female.

There is plenty of sci-fi action in this book, as well as surprises here and there. My favorite part is the friendship between Frohlic and Abs. 

If you like sci-fi, this is an excellent book to read. I highly recommend it.