This is another week for worship music. This edition of cMusicMail we have a
review of the latest Passion disc by a new writer, Hollie Stewart. We are
really excited to have her on the site, and look for many upcoming reviews
from Hollie. Also, this week, we have new stuff on the site, including an
article on Jeremy Camp. And finally, in stores today are CDs from City on a
Hill and Salvador.

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SACRED REVOLUTION - PASSION (2003)
by Hollie Stewart

Jesus announced to His disciples that where two or three are gathered in His
name, there He is in the midst of them. This call for corporate gatherings
has extended through the centuries to reach our modern churches. The call
for corporate worship has proved to hold much power, and events such as
OneDay, a 3-day "festival" where Christians from around the nation can
gather to worship their Savior in a corporate setting, have become extremely
popular. Passion: Sacred Revolution captures the worship from this year’s
3-day event in May. Artists such as Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band,
Charlie Hall, and Christy Nockels congregate in Texas to make a joyful noise
to the Lord, a noise that inspires thousands of university students and
young adults to enter into closer fellowship with their God.

The Passion organization is one of the only worship groups that has my
entire respect. While other artists continue to jump on the bandwagon and
make worship CDs because it's popular, Passion seeks to equip generation X
with ways to reach for their Creator.

Following the trend of previous Passion recordings, Sacred Revolution is
full of intense praise songs like "O Praise Him (All This for a King)" by
David Crowder Band, with a chorus that declares "O praise Him / He is holy."
Chris Tomlin leads with scripture references, "We stand and lift up our
hands / for the joy of the Lord is our strength. ...Holy is the Lord God
Almighty / the earth is filled with His glory" in his song, "Holy is the
Lord."

I found the songs "All the Earth," "Sing to the King," and "Sending"
refreshing musical changes from the preceding songs. I find a huge fault in
modern worship when the psalmists refuse to depart from the same three
chords we hear ever Sunday morning. These three selections bring new keys
and new musical arrangements. "Sing to the King" engages the listener with
powerful female vocals. "Sending" serves as a cry to God to "send us with
fire to go love the world," a reinforcement of Jesus' Great Commission. The
pulsing beat urges the listener to passionately seek the lost in their
environment.

The quiet moments come in songs like "Come Let us Return to the Lord,"
"Knees to the Earth," and "Take My Life." My favorite of this trio (and of
the whole album) is "Take My Life." The worship leaders revisit this old
hymn and reintroduce it to a new audience. The lyrics hold an intimacy,
uniqueness, and concentration on image, more so than many of the modern
songs. Look at these phrases: "Take my voice and let me sing always only
for my King. Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my intellect and use every power as You choose. Take my will and make
it Thine. It shall be no longer mine. Take myself and I will be every only
all for Thee." The chorus culminates in a soaring surrender: "Here am I,
all of me. Take my life, it’s all for Thee."

This song allows the audience at OneDay to enter the CD in the strongest
moment. When the band dies down, the voices of a multitude can be heard
serenading their King. That's the aspect of this CD I admire the most, the
one that moves me to tears. Anyone can go in a studio and whip together a
few songs that will make us think about God, perhaps providing a beat and
creating a few slower ballads to give us emotional goosebumps. But in this
moment, there is purity. We hear voices of a crowd who aren't singing to be
recorded on a CD. They aren't on a stage for an audience of humanity.
They're on their feet, on their knees, on their faces, in a posture of
heart-felt reverence, and singing for One audience alone.

God displays His glory in the gathering of His saints. When the Levitical
priests ministered to Him, His fire fell, consuming the sacrifice. It's in
moments of intimacy with the King that lives change for the better.
Passion: Sacred Revolution is a musical soundtrack we can use to give glory
to Jesus Christ. For those of you seeking a CD that allows you to enter the
Holy place, to enter high praise, I encourage you to purchase this
recording. It's sacred in attitude and revolutionary in content.

Read more about Passion at cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/worship/passion


OTHER NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM

Review: 12 Stones - 12 Stones
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/12stones/12stones.shtml

Feature: Jeremy Camp
http://cMusicWeb.com/rock/jeremycamp/feature.shtml


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local music store)

PURCHASE THIS MUSIC AND MORE AT GRASSROOTSMUSIC.COM:
http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/?associateid=249

CITY ON A HILL: THE GATHERING - VARIOUS
Some are calling this PICK OF THE WEEK the best City on a Hill disc yet, and
it shows. Employing the skills of Jars of Clay, Bebo, Sara Groves, Sixpence,
Andrew Peterson, Ginny Owens, and more, the disc features many new songs as
well as favorites "Beautiful Scandalous Night" and "Marvelous Light".

WORSHIP LIVE CD/DVD - SALVADOR
If you've ever seen Salvador live, then you know what to expect on this
CD/DVD. Available separately or together, both the CD and DVD capture a
great concert of this band who flawlessly blends Latin music, pop, and
worship, sometimes even in the course of one song. Check out this release
for Salvador faves like "Lord I Come Before You" as well as worship faves "I
Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and "As The Deer".


Thanks for reading this week's cMusicMail, and we'll be back next week with
even more great content. If you have any comments or questions, please reply
to this e-mail or send them to webmaster@.... We'd love to hear
from you!

Dan Ficker
http://cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
AOL IM - dMusicWeb