“And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” ~ Mark 2:17 ESV
Like Jesus, we’re to choose those that need us. We’re not to walk by them; not to ignore them; not to grumble about them, but to recognize them, and then choose them. Like Jesus, we’re to forgive them. We’re to have compassion about their situation, and not hold any judgement against them. Like Jesus, we’re to heal them. We’re to reach out and embrace them, to care for their livelihood, and to see them through their trials to a better place. Like Jesus, we’re to see them changed. We’re to care enough to get involved and then side by side bring them to a better understanding about who they are, and who the God is that loves them. Like Jesus, we’re to send them out to tell others the Good News. We’re to make disciples of them! Yes, like Jesus, we’re to choose them, forgive them, heal them, see them changed, and then to send them out.
Pray on, ~ E.M.
A disciple follows where an apostle is sent. ~ Kris Langham
So much has been written about mankind’s need for hope, and there’s never been a time when we didn’t need it. Scripture says, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.’ (Romans 15:13 ESV) ~ E.M.
Hope of the World ushers in a radiant light, instills hope, and leaves you with a smile that lingers
The Further
I was asked recently about the journey of this song, as in how did it get to this version, and on this album? It’s no doubt the oldest song on the project. It was written twenty years ago and has gone through quite a few differing arrangements over that time. I was never really happy with it, in fact I had no intentions of including it on an album back in 2011 called The Twelve. It took some prodding from a voice on my accountability team. And yes, I have a real accountability team that keeps me on the straight and narrow, or at least it attempts too. I included it back then because it was always an engaging song during times of worship. What made me uncomfortable was not the message, I love the message, but the musical setting never quite felt right. I always struggled to find a nice little niche to sing it from …where it didn’t feel awkward.
The Chapel Songsproject was created as a collection of easy to access worship songs for the small church, not that they couldn’t be embellished and sung in larger communities, but so many of todays popular recordings can be intimidating for musicians who aren’t professionals, and I wanted to provide an album of songs a single guitarist or pianist could lead with.
So I revisited this song and toyed with some sparse arrangements, and eventually found one that made me smile, and that was it. The lyric video is an unplugged version of the album track and presents an even simpler approach. The message is still intact, and is certainly still relevant. God’s messages always are!
Hope of the world Shine on us You are the Answer
Fill up our hearts, fill up our souls Lure us away from all that’s wrong Fill up our hearts, fill up our souls Give us the strength to carry on
Here we stand, blessed with each new day Here we stand, humbled works of clay
There is nothing that replaces family. We have an inherent need for kindredship. Our earthly tribe offers us comfort, understanding, and security. It’s the one place that we prayerfully are excepted just the way we are. But lost in our limited worldly existence, is the truth that we actually share in a much larger spiritual brother and sisterhood. The Author of all we know calls us sons and daughters. The Creator of the universe knows each of us by name and we are his children.
‘Creation’s not His final act Beyond the wind and waters Redemption is his final work When in Christ we’re all sons and daughters’
E.M.
The inspiration for this song was from a meditation on 2 Corinthians 6:18 where we hear God saying, ‘… I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.’ This is actually a quote from 2 Samuel 7:14, and Isaiah 43:6.
My mother never knew her earthly father, but very early on she was blessed to embraced her heavenly one. Over the years that relationship grew to be unbelievably strong. She found in her earthly brokenness, a healing bond, a heavenly Father that she would never be separated from. She really was going home as her life here came to an end. She was going home to be with her ever loving Father in heaven.
It’s that kind of love that we’re all invited into. It’s that kind of endless love that our Father pours out on us each day. It’s that kind of unimaginable love that we’re capable of as his children, made in his image, created as family here and for eternity.
‘Surrender your heart Surrender your life Surrender your bark Surrendered your bite Peace released from the heavens above Misery ceased In the arms of love’
E.M.
I wanted the soundscape to be a driving force. To negotiate through this life requires a deep spiritual strength. The darkness that surround us can be daunting if not downright demanding. So I stepped into a different sonic space to create what I felt was a strong supporting platform for this timeless message.
It’s certainly a return to some of my early roots, and it was actually quite a bit of fun to crank up the volume again. The early response has been very favorable and I’m looking forward to the moment when we can bring it to life in a live setting.
Until that time please feel free to share your thoughts on the song and on the entire album which is dropping February 19, 2021.
Works 