I’m a discipleship pastor and preacher in Miami and was captivated by your message at the recent Desiring God conference on words. I was particularly interested in your ministry, having been a fan of your work with Glad, and having grown-up in a secular music environment where I fell in love with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys stuff, and similar artists.

Even after some years in the ministry and many in the kingdom, I still find it difficult to find and listen to CCM or worship music (aside from some exceptions) that moves me to worship or excites my ear like the oldies secular stuff I grew up with (e.g. Beach Boys). Can you help me with that? While I enjoy occassionally the clever lyrical machinations of Apologetix, I’m looking for artists who musically can embody that vocal harmonic, pop, major key, melodic sound that moves me, with God glorifying lyrics.

I have tried and periodically enjoy: 4Him, Tomlin, Mercy Me, Mark Schultz, some of the new Leyland, Newsong, old Keith Green, Steven Curtis Chapman, etc. but am struggling to find more. Any insight you have to offer will be much appreciated. Thanks and God bless you and your ministry.

Thanks for the comment on my blog, too. It meant a lot.

BTW, I should mention that the last time our daughter played in church, she played 3 SGM songs during communion.

Thanks for letting me know. I’ll pass it on.

You mentioned my friend Terry in your article. Yesterday, (Friday, Sept. 27, 2008) his oldest daughter, Emily, was murdered. Please remember him and his family in your prayers, and if you’d be so kind as ask others in Sovereign Grace to pray also, it would be much appreciated.

Blessings in Christ,
Paul Van Stralen

My husband, a pastor, attended the T4TG in 2006. I look forward to attending with him in 2008. For about 5 years, I served a music director (though not congregational leader) at our church. Once a month, as a congregation, we learn a new song by singing it every Sunday morning. By using this method, we have learn almost 50 rich “old” hymns and “modern” songs, many of them from Sovereign Grace. Now, a Sovereign grace song is sung almost every Sunday morning, either in “Early Praise” or in our worship service.

It is clear that our congregational singing improved. Where we used to here “Why don’t we sing (fill in)”, we now here “That song moved my heart” or “I love the words to that song –they are so rich”.

We learned “How Sweet and Awful” about 3 months ago, and the response to it was probably the strongest so far. How wonderul it is to hear the congregation sing with more joy and feeling because of the message of the song, and not because of the style of the music.

I have made a few attempts at writing church music, all before the Lord let me discover Sovereign Grace material. I did introduce one of the songs to our congregation, and it has been received well by them and guests from other churches. I’m sending it to you, and if you’d like to know the tune to which we sing it, contact me and I’ll try to locate the name.

Regeneration’s Song

“None seeks for God” the Word proclaims.
And, “all have sinned is so.”
Mankind deserves both death and hell
For all are born God’s foe.
But God, in mercy, reaches down
To those He calls His own;
So loved before the world began
And given to His Son.

No unformed child himself conceived
Then chose to leave the womb.
And, neither can those “dead in sin”
Decide to be reborn.
Regeneration comes from God,
Our second birth He owns.
His sovereign power, His mercy great
Are universally shown.

A newborn soul can then repent,
and with God’s gift of grace,
Be justified when God alone
Decides salvation’s day.
How great our God! How great His gift!
What joy to always be
Adopted children of our God
Throughout eternity

(TAG)
His sovereign power, His Mercy great,
Shine through eternity.

My goal was to write a song (again before I learned of Sovereign Grace Music) that taught the basic doctrine of regeneration and the doctrines of grace as succinctly as I could. My prayer is that it can be used to His glory in whatever way He directs.

I am grateful to the Lord for you and your ministry to the church. The music from Sovereign Grace truly exalts our Lord and edifies His church.

In Christ,
Sandy Hess

Thanks for the link, too.

We sang this song to the tune of St. Columba, an old Irish melody.