Album of the week: Jesus Record (Demos)

The album I'm highlighting this week is one of my favorites. All-time forever-and-ever favorites. It's the Jesus Record by Rich Mullins. For those unfamiliar with Rich Mullins, he was a singer/songwriter. His gift was tremendous. His legacy, large. This is a two-CD set. The first CD, the Jesus Demos, features Rich Mullins working on his last project. These songs were recorded--on a cassette player--just one week before his death. He recorded these demos at an abandoned church. The Jesus project had an ambitious goal: "Every song would be specifically about Jesus, and for the most part, straight from scripture." The second CD takes these songs and gives the project a polished studio feel. I'll be discussing that CD in a separate post. Hopefully, I'll get that together later this week. If not, I'll post next week.

The song listing:

Hard to Get
All The Way To Kingdom Come
My Deliverer
Surely God Is With Us
Jesus...
You Did Not Have A Home
Heaven In His Eyes
Nothing Is Beyond You
That Where I Am, There You...

My favorite song? Without a doubt...that would be "That Where I Am, There You..." Granted, I loved John 14 long long before Rich Mullins was inspired to write this one...but still. My favorite scripture put to song by one of the most incredible songwriters? Bound to be my favorite!

In my Father's house there are many, many rooms
In my Father's house there are many, many rooms
And I'm going up there now to prepare a place for you
That where I am, there you may also be

If I go prepare a place for you, I will come back again
If I go prepare a place for you, I will come back again
And you know I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, keep my command
That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be
Up where the truth, the truth will set you free
In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace
That where I am, there you may also be

Remember you did not choose me, no I have chosen you
Remember you did not choose me, no I have chosen you
The world will show you hatred, the Spirit show you truth
That where I am, there you may also be

And I've come down from the Father, it's time for me to go back up
Oh, I've come down from the Father, it's time for me to go back up
One command I leave you: Love as I have loved
That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be
Up where the truth, the truth will set you free
In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace
That where I am, there you may also be

That where I am, there you may also be
Up where the truth, the truth will set you free
In the world you will have trouble, but I'm leaving you my peace
That where I am, there you may also be

My second favorite? Probably "Surely God Is With Us."

Well, who's that man who thinks He's a prophet?
Well, I wonder if He's got something up His sleeve
Where's He from? Who is His daddy?
There's rumors He even thinks Himself a king
Of a kingdom of paupers
Simpletons and rogues
The whores all seem to love Him
And the drunks propose a toast

And they say, "Surely God is with us.
Well, surely God is with us."
They say, "Surely God is with us today!"

Who's that man who says He's a preacher?
Well, He must be, He's disturbing all our peace
Where's He get off, and what is He hiding
And every word He says those fools believe
Who could move a mountain
Who would love their enemy
Who could rejoice in pain
And turn the other cheek

And still say, "Surely God is with us,
Well, surely God is with us,"
Who'll say, "Surely God is with us today, today!"

They say, "Surely God is with us
Well, surely God is with us"
They say, "Surely God is with us"

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Heaven belongs to them
Blessed are those who make peace
They are God's children
I Am the Bread of Life, and the Way"
You hear that Man, believe what He says!

Tell me, who's that Man, they made Him a prisoner
They tortured Him and nailed Him to a tree
Well if He's so bad, who did He threaten?
Did He deserve to die between two thieves?
See the scars and touch His wounds
He's risen flesh and bone
Now the sinners have become the saints
And the lost have all come home

And they say, "Surely God is with us (Surely God is with us)
Well, surely God is with us,"
They say, "Surely God is with us today!" (Today!)

They say, "Surely God is with us
Well, surely God is with us"
They say, "Surely God is with us today"

All of these songs have blessed me. And then some. I just love this album. The rawness. The passion. The simplicity. The beauty and grace of it all.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible