"There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and strength for the broken heart. Faith and forgiveness, mercy and healing, he'll meet you wherever you are. Cry out to Jesus."

 

Lately I have been encouraged by contemporary Christian music. Bands like Third Day, Needtobreath, Mercy Me, Newsboys and more.

 

I'm not one who listens to any kind of music normally. Has anyone else experienced this?

No, I continue to dislike it as a genre.

 

I told a circle group in Sunday School class that I did not like contemporary Christian music, and they all looked at me like I had shot their dog. They asked me what 'on Earth' I listened to and I told them bluegrass and Irish punctuated by the occasional Joan Jett diddy. That response was greeted with head-shaking and the proverbial wailing and gnashing of teeth.

 

To each their own, I guess.

What little I've heard I haven't been crazy about. Maybe I just haven't given the genre a chance.

Love it. A Casting Crowns song I have heard recently has really weighed on me.

 

"While You Were Sleeping"

 

Oh little town of Bethlehem

Looks like another silent night

Above your deep and dreamless sleep

A giant star lights up the sky

And while you're lying in the dark

There shines an everlasting light

For the King has left His throne

And is sleeping in a manger tonight

 

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

For God became a man

And stepped into your world today

Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

 

Oh little town of Jerusalem

Looks like another silent night

The Father gave His only Son

The Way, the Truth, the Life had come

But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

 

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today

Jerusalem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

 

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

As we're sung to sleep by philosophies

That save the trees and kill the children

And while we're lying in the dark

There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky

For the Bridegroom has returned

And has carried His bride away in the night

 

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping

Will Jesus come again

And leave us slumbering where we lay

America, will we go down in history

As a nation with no room for its King

Will we be sleeping

Will we be sleeping

 

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

Here is another that I think should hit home with every Christian. Who are the people in need of Christ that we run into every single day and we don't hear them.

 

"Does Anybody Hear Her"

 

She is running

A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

She is trying

But the canyon's ever widening

In the depths of her cold heart

So she sets out on another misadventure just to find

She's another two years older

And she's three more steps behind

 

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

Or does anybody even knows she's going down today

Under the shadow of our steeple

With all the lost and lonely people

Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

 

She is yearning

For shelter and affection

That she never found at home

She is searching

For a hero to ride in

To ride in and save the day

And in walks her prince charming

And he knows just what to say

Momentary lapse of reason

And she gives herself away

 

If judgement looms under every steeple

If lofty glances from lofty people

Can't see past her scarlet letter

And we never even met her

 

He is running

A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

My sons have a bunch Momma too so I hear a lot and like most of it. This is coming from a 60s/70s classic rock guy. I also have several Bluegrass Gospel CDs that I simply love and I believe I'm alone on that one.

"There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and strength for the broken heart. Faith and forgiveness, mercy and healing, he'll meet you wherever you are. Cry out to Jesus."

 

Lately I have been encouraged by contemporary Christian music. Bands like Third Day, Needtobreath, Mercy Me, Newsboys and more.

 

I'm not one who listens to any kind of music normally. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

Third Day and Mercy me are a few of my favorites. Also a big fan of Chris Tomlinson.

What little I've heard I haven't been crazy about. Maybe I just haven't given the genre a chance.

Permission to swipe that cool smiley band?

 

 

I like MercyMe. I've got their "Almost There" CD, and it's really good.

I like Sanctus Real and Story Side B a lot...

I saw the David Crowder Band on their "club tour" last year and became a big fan. They are very good and entertaining.

I don't care for it either.

Actually I love any GOOD music. My taste ranges from Opera to Bluegrass (strange but true) I am partial to Christian music that lifts up and magnifies our Savior and I am a fan of Casting Crowns. When I sing I sing mostly classical, Inspirational Christian (Sandi Patty, etc.) and Broadway. I DO NOT LIKE RAP in any shape, form or fashion at all.

To quote the great Hank Hill: "Can't you see you're not making Christianity better, you're just making rock music worse?"

 

I don't dislike it as a genre, but I find most of the songs I've heard to be bland and unlistenable. The flatness of the music undoes any potential to be moved by the words. It makes them more hollow. If I'm listening to religious music, I'll take the old songs myself.

I don't see how some of you are labeling ALL Christian Music as one genre. That would be like labeling all non-Christian music as "non-Christian" music. If you have an interest in Christian music then you should be able to find something you like (with the exception of Hearsay with his love of Bluegrass and Irish music).

I listen to a LOT of different kind of music and too find myself listening to some Contemporary Christian music as well.

 

My favorite, and I am biased towards them, is 7eventh Time Down. They are all from Rockcastle County and are really great people. They have an album on Itunes and they have their own MySpace page. If anyone would like to try listening to them, their MySpace game can be found by clicking here.