The Worship Review

"Keep Us All Close" by Eastlake Music assumes a universal search for God amidst diverse beliefs and struggles. The song petitions God to "let in" friends, enemies, the marginalized and people of all faiths. Tyler and Colin discuss whether this contemporary Christian song is, in fact, Christian.God bless our friends, God bless our enemiesAll of our children, all of our familiesWe've got no idea what we're doingWe've tried to find You throughout the centuriesDifferent religions in different countriesWe've got no idea what we're doingWe'll never make it on our ownWe've got too much dark inside of usWe'll never make it on our ownGod bless the poor, God bless the broken-heartedGod bless the widow, God bless the long departedWe've got no idea what we're doingGod bless the christian, God bless the atheistGod bless the muslim, God bless the rest of usWe've got no idea what we're doingKeep us all close, every one of us closeDon't let anyone goLet all our friends in, and all our enemiesAll of our children, all of our familiesWe've got no idea what we're doingWe've tried to find You throughout the centuriesDifferent religions in different countriesWe've got no idea what we're doing

This song encourages us to see all our feasting, mourning, love, work, and play as opportunities to worship God. Join Colin & Tyler as we examine the poetic language and Biblical references in this modern hymn. Verse 1 If creation is longing for freedom and glory Every winter that passes each forest that burns There’s a cry from its heart come Lord Jesus return Every season a temple of praise Verse 2 If all history is marked by the sign of the cross Then each year that I give You is gain and not loss For in time all our empires just melt like the frost May our days be a temple of praise Chorus 1 Oh Ancient of Days You have chosen Your moments All our feasting and mourning our love work and play So when time is rolled up on that great Judgment Day May my days be a temple of praise Verse 3 I can rise to Your song on the wings of the morning Walk with your Spirit in the cool of the day I can pray with a child as the sun bows his head May my days be a temple of praise Chorus 2 O Lord now I see that my days are all numbered All the feasting and mourning the love work & play So when I lay down my life at Your feet for a crown May eternity ring with Your praise May eternity ring with Your praise May my days be a temple of praise

Part two. Can the doctrine of God's sovereignty serve as the basis for an emotional and powerful contemporary Christian worship song? CityAlight's "Your Glory & My Good" grapples with some of the most weighty and challenging issues in the Christian faith. As a result, Colin and Tyler end up in a wide ranging discussion about trusting God in the midst of suffering, the beauty and power of the Psalms, Christian deconstruction and even some social psychology. Enjoy!

Can the doctrine of God's sovereignty serve as the basis for an emotional and powerful contemporary Christian worship song? CityAlight's "Your Glory & My Good" grapples with some of the most weighty and challenging issues in the Christian faith. As a result, Colin and Tyler end up in a wide ranging discussion about trusting God in the midst of suffering, the beauty and power of the Psalms, Christian deconstruction and even some social psychology. Enjoy!

This week's episode analyzes a song by Dustin Kensrue called "Grace Alone." The song addresses several core elements of the gospel: that we have no right to approach God, that we have redemption and salvation through Jesus, that the Holy Spirit makes the light of Christ shine on our darkened hearts, and more. Lyrics: I was an orphan lost at the Fall, Running away when I'd hear Your call, But Father, You worked Your will I had no righteousness of my own, I had no right to draw near Your throne, But Father, You loved me still And in love before You laid the world's foundation You predestined to adopt me as Your own You have raised me so high up above my station I'm a child of God by grace and grace alone You left Your home to seek out the lost; You knew the great and terrible cost, But Jesus, Your face was set I worked my fingers down to the bone; Nothing I did could ever atone, But Jesus, You paid my debt By Your blood, I have redemption and salvation; Lord, You died that I might reap what You have sown And You rose that I might be a new creation; I am born again by grace and grace alone I was in darkness all of my life; I never knew the day from the night, But Spirit, You made me see I swore I knew the way on my own; Head full of rocks, a heart made of stone, But Spirit, You moved in me At your touch my sleeping spirit was awakened; On my darkened heart the light of Christ has shone Called into a kingdom that cannot be shaken; Heaven's citizen by grace and grace alone So I'll stand in faith by grace and grace alone; I will run the race by grace and grace alone I will slay my sin by grace and grace alone; I will reach the end by grace and grace alone

If you saw the phrase "Free to Love" on a bumper sticker in California, what would you think it meant? What about in a worship song? Colin and Tyler talk about "It was Finished upon that Cross" by CityAlight.

Colin and Tyler yuk it up on this episode of The Worship Review. Brandon Lake's very popular song 'Gratitude' provides an opportunity to discuss thankfulness and how we express it to God.

This worship song reminds us that all our praise ultimately belongs to King Jesus. As we dive into the lyrics of this modern praise tune, we take a closer look at the creation declaring God's glory, the implications of God existing outside of time, and the eternity of praise Christians have to look forward to. "1,000 Hallelujahs and 1,000 more" equals 2,000, but how many points out of five will Colin and Tyler give this song? Tune in to find out. [Verse 1] Who else would rocks cry out to worship? Whose glory taught the stars to shine? Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing But this joy is mine [Chorus] With a thousand hallelujahs We magnify Your name You alone deserve the glory The honor and the praise Lord Jesus This song is forever Yours A thousand hallelujahs And a thousand more [Verse 2] Who else would die for our redemption? Whose resurrection means I’ll rise? There isn’t time enough to sing of all You’ve done But I have eternity to try [Bridge] Praise to the Lord To the lamb To the King of Heaven Praise for He rose Now He reigns We will sing forever Praise to the Lord To the lamb To the King of Heaven Praise for He rose Now He reigns We will sing forever

This classic song has been sung at Advent time for generations. How well does it present the gospel? Is it easy to understand? Should churches sing it? We discuss on this episode of The Worship Review. Lyrics: O Holy night! The stars are brightly shiningIt is the night of our dear Savior's birthLong lay the world in sin and error pining'Til He appears and the soul felt its worthA thrill of hope the weary world rejoicesFor yonder breaks a new and glorious mornFall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!O night divine, O night when Christ was bornO night, O Holy night, O night divine!Led by the light of Faith serenely beamingWith glowing hearts by His cradle we standSo led by light of a star sweetly gleamingHere come the Wise Men from Orient landThe King of kings lay thus in lowly mangerIn all our trials born to be our friendHe knows our need, to our weakness is no strangerBehold your King; before Him lowly bendBehold your King; before Him lowly bendTruly He taught us to love one another;His law is love and His Gospel is PeaceChains shall He break, for the slave is our brotherAnd in His name, all oppression shall ceaseSweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise weLet all within us Praise His Holy nameChrist is the Lord; O praise His name forever!His power and glory evermore proclaimHis power and glory evermore proclaim

This easy-going and elegant song appeared on both the Rain For Roots Waiting Songs album as well as Sandra McCracken's God's Highway. Should an advent song like this one-a song which relies on metaphor and seasonal context--be treated differently than songs which use similar elements, but without the context? Colin and Tyler discuss. Lyrics: For you, O Lord, our souls in stillness waitFor you, O Lord, our souls in stillness waitTruly our hope is in YouTruly our hope is in YouO Lord of life, our only hopeYour radiance shinesOn all who look -- to You in the darkEmmanuel come, come light our heartsFor you, O Lord, our souls in stillness waitFor you, O Lord, our souls in stillness waitTruly our hope is in YouTruly our hope is in YouO Joy above all other lovesIn you we find more than enoughWe come as we are, O heal and restoreCome light our hearts