Album of the Week: Brother to Brother

I'd like to introduce a new feature--I don't know if it will be weekly or not. But I'd like to take the time to post about music. To highlight those artists and albums that I'm enjoying.

The album that I've been listening to lately isn't new. Far from it. (It was released--according to Amazon--in 1996). It's called Brother to Brother. It's a collaboration album between John Michael Talbot and Michael Card. Card, I suppose, is someone that you'd call a forever-favorite of mine. He won my heart back in the days I was in preschool with songs like "Tell the World That Jesus Loves You," "The Final Word," "Immanuel," "Love Crucified Arose," "El Shaddai," and "God's Own Fool."

The album listing:

One Faith
Come Worship the Lord (Psalm 95)
Glory to Thee (O God of Life)
Immanuel/Behold Now the Kingdom
Advent Suite
The Word
The Final Word
Why
The Mystery
Healer of My Soul
Live This Mystery
Come to the Table

I like "One Faith." It is taken (in part) from Ephesians 4:3-6.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

It also is inspired by John 10.

(John 10 1-18)

The Shepherd and His Flock

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Of course that's just the first song on the album. So many are 'just right' for me. I love "Come Worship The Lord"--so beautiful, so simple, so right. And "Come to the Table" is one of my favorites as well.

I love these songs: the music, the lyrics, the fact that they give you something to think about, to contemplate. They have staying power because they're substantive.