For classic Jesus music songs from live concerts in the 1970s, take a listen to Jerry Bryant‘s Full Circle show, episode #124. It includes tracks from Andrae Crouch, Noel Paul Stookey, Danny Taylor, Randy Matthews, Barry Mcguire, Phil Keaggy, the 2nd Chapter Of Acts, Mickey & Becky Moore, Love Song, and Benny Hester.
Featured song: Met In The Stairwell, written by Stacey Randall, read by Bob Holiday, from late 2001.
Eight years ago today, our world was changed profoundly. By the actions of some very lost men with a very great hatred, many lives were taken in a tragedy that affects us still today.
As an adult, I had not previously experienced a disaster that affected me in a way that caused me to simply stop and stare at the news on the television, not believing what I was seeing, praying that somehow it was not as bad as it appeared.
I did not personally lose anybody that I knew in the disastrous plane crashes on the World Trade Center towers in New York, or on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001. I have no personal connection with either city. I am a midwestern born and raised person, and frankly I have no great love for large cities.
And yet this wanton destruction, this attack on this land that I love, struck me with the same intensity as it did to many others in our country, even in the world, on that day. It was such a feeling of helplessness, of sadness, of horror for the victims (both in the jets that crashed, as well as for those in the buildings those jets struck) and for their families.
In the months following 9/11, one story written about the tragedy from the point of view of Jesus began to circulate the Internet. It first was played on radio station KFSH 95.9 FM in Los Angeles, California in November 2001, and continued to get airplay spreading throughout the nation both during and after the Christmas season that year. The words were written by Stacey Randall, it was read by Bob Holiday of KFSH, and it was recorded with Mannheim Steamroller‘s Silent Night playing in the background. Titled Met In The Stairwell, but also known as I Was There (9/11), I found it to be an intense look at that snapshot in time, and a reminder that most of us do not know whether or not today will be our last day on earth.
I’ve written posts in the past on this web site about the brevity of life, and the need to know now where you stand with Jesus Christ. In the 2 Corinthians 6:2 the Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted hour, behold now is the day of salvation.” I am not promised tomorrow. I am that Jesus will be with me in anything that comes my way today, even if that happens to be the end of my time here on earth.
If you do not know where you stand with God now, don’t take this song and lyrics to be something only intended to draw a tear from your eye. Take it as a promise of the presence of Jesus in your life, knocking at your door, waiting permission to enter. And do not delay, thinking that you will have time “tomorrow”. Take that step today.
You say you’ll never forget where you were
when you heard the news on September 11th, 2001.Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say goodbye.I held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him the peace to say,
“Honey, I am not going to make it,
but it’s okay…I’m ready to go.”I was with his wife when he called
as she fed breakfast to their children.I held her up as she tried to understand his words,
and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor
when a women cried out to Me for help.
“I’ve been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!”
I said, “Of course I will show you the way home –
only believe in Me now.”I was at the base of the building when the Priest
ministered to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend his flock in Heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there,
comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.I was in Texas, Kansas, London.
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name – though not all know Me.Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames,
“Come to Me…this way…take My hand.”Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the tower that day.
You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time,
would you have reached for Me?September 11th, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end,
and I’ll be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you’re “ready to go.”I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
Remember…I love you.
Featured songs: Paint My Life and The Mystery, by John Michael Talbot and Terry Talbot from their 1980 album, The Painter.
I enjoy songs that explain a facet of God, whom I cannot see, by comparing it with something I can see.
There are also writers and poets who, during the past 2000 years, have done their best to describe facets of God and His nature. Some of them have written their descriptions in the form of prayers that stay with us to this day.
One of the most famous of these was written by St. Francis of Assisi, who lived back in the early 13th century. He is remembered as a founder of the Franciscans, a Catholic religious order. During his life, he dedicated himself to more closely identifying with the teachings of Jesus Christ, to the point of taking a vow of poverty, and preaching repentance. His Prayer Of St. Francis is translated as follows:
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.Amen.
I was not raised as a Catholic, but during part of my childhood I lived in South Bend, Indiana, the home of the Catholic-based Notre Dame University. Back in the days when televisions stations did not broadcast for 24 hours a day, I vividly remember staying up late enough for Johnny Carson to be over, followed soon afterwards by the sign-off of television station WNDU in South Bend. In addition to the national anthem, they also played a recording of the Prayer of St. Francis. It seemed a peaceful end to the day.
Today when I read the words of this prayer, I am reminded of those aspects of the Christian life that involve communion with God, through prayer and meditation on His word. And if you want to find Jesus music that fits into a meditative style, look no further than John Michael Talbot. Although he released an album in 1980, Come To The Quiet which includes St. Francis’ prayer put to song (Peace Prayer), he and his brother Terry Talbot also used some of these themes in two of the songs on their joint album The Painter. They used the imagery of a God as an artist, painting His image on the canvas of my life, with colors of His qualities.
Here are the two songs First, Paint My Life:
So paint my life with your charity
So paint my life with your mercy
Paint my life with your humility
And I will share in your gloryJesus, paint my life!
Jesus, paint my life!Color your brush with your kindness
Color your brush with your meekness
Color your brush with your gentleness
Color your brush with your forgivenessJesus, paint my life!
Jesus, paint my life!
Jesus …
And now, The Mystery.
Could you be findin’ the Mystery
You have been looking for?
A kingdom where servants will come to be kings
Are you looking for?And you’ll know
That the sweet paradoxes unfolds
And the mystery will clearly show
And you’ll know
And you’ll know…Jesus, paint my life
(Could you be findin’ the mystery?)
Jesus, paint my life
(Could you be findin’ the mystery?)
Jesus, paint my life
(Could you be findin’ the mystery?)And we know, you are the Master of painters
Comin’ the true Prince of Peace
And we know, you are the true Creator
Comin’ the King of KingsJesus, paint my life with charity
(Could you be finding the mystery?)
Paint my life with mercy
(Could you be finding the mystery?)
Paint my life
(Could you be finding the mystery?)Can you be the light of the world?
Can you be the light?
Take the light that’s given to you
Can you be the light?Can you give your love to the world?
Can you give your love?
Take the love that’s given to you
Can you give your love?Jesus paint my life with charity
(Can you be the life?)
Paint my life with mercy
(Can you be the life?)
Paint my life
(Can you be the life?)Paint my life
And if you want more meditative music, check out Talbot’s Come To The Quiet album.
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Tags: John Michael Talbot, peace, pray, Terry Talbot
I have found something else in my collection that I feel is worth sharing with those who are enjoying this web site. Back in 1998, on 101.9 KGBI-FM in Omaha, a special airing occurred around Independence Day (I believe). They played a special program, The History of Christian Music, compiled by CCM Magazine (originally titled Contemporary Christian Music) and hosted by radio announcer Jon Rivers. Rivers had been in radio for a long time (I remember hearing him do a program called Powerline back when I was in high school, playing popular rock music, and doing commentary on it), and had been doing 20: The Countdown Magazine for the Christian radio market for many years. His was a recognizable voice to put to this project of summarizing Christian pop music from its beginnings to the present day.
I was able to record most of this program when it aired, but the recording does have, unfortunately, a couple of holes in it. There is a gap between what I have labeled as parts 8 and 9, in which the events of the year 1984 (and possibly some of 1983 and 1985 around it) are missing. Also, the final hour of the History is missing, in which different artists were going to give their impressions as to what the future would bring in Christian music. I believe I have that around here somewhere, and if I ever do turn it up, I’ll include it here.
You can find these files in the Download part of this web site, under the section called “History”. I did try sending e-mail both to the CCM Magazine web site as well as to Jon Rivers, asking if either knew who owned the rights to this radio production, and whether or not I could post it. I have never received a reply about this. As with the other files in the Download part of this site, if it is determined that these files are inappropriate to post here, I will gladly remove them. The series is so interesting to hear, that I just didn’t feel I should keep it to myself.
