NEW MUSIC WEDNESDAY

Every morning as I drive to work, I have a routine, but it is not a routine but a habit. I love to listen to the gospel and inspirational radio stations for music and sometimes for sermons or talks. I also have some really great music plugged into my music box. I believe that doing this keeps me from having a bad driving day, or worse, road rage. 

So I have been listening to music from Hill Song Church. This is a church in Australia, that have church's in New York, and other parts of the world. They have a wonderful Music Ministry, and their style is to write original worship songs or re-arrange some standards and sing them in an acoustic format or with an accompanying band with soloists. The congregation is really participant in every song. Their affiliation seems to be Church of God or Pentecostal. There is a wonderful spirit accompanying their music, I love it.

So the title of the CD is "YAHWEH", and it seems to be a personal testimony the Savior to each of the singers. Here is one of my favorites "Savior King".    

        

MISSION POSSIBLE

JUST FOR FUN:

Don't you just love the Piano Guys? What!! You haven't heard of them? Can't think of any of their music off the top of your head? They are 2 two guys, a piano and a cello and lots of really beautiful music in between.

Check out this spoof on Mission Impossible, so funny.

courtesy of YouTube

New Music on a Thursday

THE NEWSBOYS

Has anyone out there heard of these guys? They popped up on my You-Tube account, most serendipitous, because I love good music, and sometimes I love a little rock and roll, it's good for the soul.  

So the Newsboys are a Christian pop-rock band that started in Moolooaba, Australia. They have been around since 1985 and recently they have a new lead singer and a different groove, but the same focus and in their words, "that focus is Jesus, and spreading his message through song." See, I thought that maybe Alex Boye' has or is working with this group. They have a lot in common.

So check out this new to me "GOD IS NOT DEAD" by the Newsboys

What I love about this song and the video is the message that we are beacons of light, that our testimony is the light bulb. There is so much "talk" about the big bang; string theories; nothing from nothing, something from nothing; and everything seems to want to marginalize the greatness of God and his Son Jesus Christ. I love the audacity of the message of this video, to stand on your testimony of the Savior at all times, even if its not popular, or even if you think you are the only one. You are not.    

SINGING THE SONG OF REDEEMING LOVE

So, last night or maybe this morning I woke up from a dream. This was not an ordinary dream and I feel that it was an answer or maybe a confirmation to a question I asked. I ask a lot of questions, most in my heart because I know that God is listening to my heart.
So the dream was this: I was in a house with a large but manageable group of people. (Crowds of people can be tricky). And there was a guest of honor, Jesus the Savior. He was there because I was there and I believe that I asked him to come. I wanted to talk to him. So he was there and the large but manageable crowd of people  also wanted to talk to him too, so being the good hostess, I let everyone go first. I came to a point in my dream that it was time to talk to Jesus, but his "disciples" (some other men came with him) told me that he had gone to another home next door, when I was ready to see him, I was to send word. 

What did Jesus look like in my dream was a question I later asked myself. The only reference I have is the actor who portrays him in the LDS Bible Videos. I was surprised that he appeared short, but then I only saw his profile, but I felt his presence, and it felt like a warm hug, a feeling of familiarity, like we were close, and I didn't hear his voice with my ears in the dream, I did feel his presence. 

So what was the word? I asked the men who came with him and they said that I would know. So just like in my waking state, I was running out of time, and I was told that the Savior would be leaving soon,but he would wait for me to send word. What was the word? The crowd of people turned into people I have seen in random places, some on the bus and metro; and they were walking around as if lost, and most were expressing disappointment at not having an opportunity to meet with the Savior, some even expressed not really believing in the Savior. So in my dream I tried to cheer them up and I searched and searched for my scriptures and when I found them, they wouldn't open. But a word of scripture came to me, it was :      

Matthew 18:20²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

So I repeated that verse to the group and they immediately understood it, and I felt the Holy Spirit bear witness to these people of the Savior. That was the word and I sent that word out but the Savior had left, but he told me not to worry about it because he would be with me always.
So as with all dreams the alarm clock brought it to a screeching halt, and I woke up like I was coming up for air, like rising out of a swimming pool.

So I pondered over this, and I felt a keen sense of longing for the Savior, wanting to talk to Him and have him answer my "soul's complaint". 

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir; featuring Alex Boye'
I Want Jesus to Walk with Me

WHAT IS A HYMN?...new music wednesday

CODY F MILLER

In Doctrine and Covenants Section 25, through a revelation given to Joseph Smith, the Savior commissions Emma Smith to compile a hymn book. I have often wondered what songs she chose. 

Doctrine & Covenants 25:11-1211 And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.

12 For my soul delights in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

In verse 12 the Savior reveals something personal to him, that makes him so much more real and accessible. He reveals to Emma, that he loves music or rather that his soul delights in the song of the heart, and more than that the "songs of the righteous" are received as prayers to Him. Awesome, doesn't that just give you goosebumps.

In light of this do you think that the Savior has a favorite song? Does he like a gospel hymn, or a beautiful classically rendered hymn? I have grown to love various genres, but I really love it when a person sings a song  in the way the "Spirit" moves them to sing.
So here it is for "New Music (to me) Wednesday  Justin Cash and Calee Reed sing "Come Thou Fount" in their own special way.
   

NEW MUSIC: BRANDON FLOWERS

THE KILLERS

Has anyone else heard of these guys? Sure you have, I know that I have definitely been living under a rock. So I love reading those testimonies of  fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.(One day soon, I am going to put my testimony out there). I am always surprised to find out the diversity. So I remember a fleeting mention of a group called "The Killers", and there was a song that was used as a sound track on a movie I missed. So last year, I think the lead singer "came out" as a Mormon. So there has been a lot of buzz in You Tube Land.

So I have been obsessed, like I usually am over "new to me" things. I have been listening to a lot of their music and I have to say, that it has to grow on you. These guys were born in the 80's and their early music sounds like the 80's. But the lead singer has a solo effort from 2010 called "Flamingo". So I bought it and it's good, and moody. It reminds me of U2; particularly on a song called "Crossfire". There's a really funky bass line, and Brandon has a really strong voice that reminds me of a younger "Bono" of U2.
Don't take my word for it
Check this out:

NEW CAR SMELL

Alma 26:12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

My husband and I have been car shopping, and it’s a brave new world since we last bought a new car about 13 years ago. I have been driving that 1998 Rodeo, precariously up and down the beltway. Lately she has been having some serious problems; flat tires at work, massive oil spills, exhaust needs replacing, no air conditioner (for at least 5 years), the sun visors fell off and I have felt like I have been traveling across the surface of Mars. But the Lord has been good, and I daresay has a sense of humor where his children are concerned. The Rodeo has set a deadline for me; it’s time for Emissions and registration renewal. I was impressed to delay the emissions for a third and last time, but times up. So we have been praying for a new car. It doesn’t matter Lord what kind it is, or make or model, but we do require air conditioning, sun visors and a radio that plays. So after this prayer, days go by, turning to months and I remember asking: “Lord where is the car? It’s getting late, and the Bus Man is waiting for me to Ride On soon”.

The Lord is good and his mercy endures forever.

I was impressed to write these instructions from Him:

1 Exercise a measure of Faith

Alma 32: 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

2 Organize yourself and prepare for every needful thing.

Doctrine and Covenants 88: 119 organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God

3 Press toward the mark; don’t give up

Philippians 3: 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

4. Go get your blessing!!!

I thought, wow, this is deep, this could really happen. I know most people can just go out and buy something, maybe a car, or a house or a trip to Paris. I am sure I could too, but I tend to drag my feet and not trust in God enough, not believe in myself enough.

So my husband and I went on a go-see. My husband exhibited great restraint and patience with me, God bless him. We bravely walked into a Nissan dealer ship and walked out with a new car. We are still in a daze.

I know this is irreverent, but this song by the late Janis Joplin has been playing in my head for a while:

Mercedes Benz

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

My friends all drive Porsche's, I must make amends

Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends

So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

The effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man; availeth much.