I’m white–really white.
And no, my preferred musical genre is not hip hop or rap.
But yes, I am recommending Shai Linne‘s newest album The Attributes of God which was released on 11.1.11.
Music Reviews
Lyrical Theology, Pt. 1: Theology by Shai Linne
Shai Linne’s latest album, Lyrical Theology, Pt. 1, just released April 9th, 2013 via Lamp Mode Records. As the tile suggests, “this [album] is part one of a trilogy, with the other two albums ([Part 1: Theology,] Part 2: Doxology and Part 3: Sociology) to be released in the near future.” In this album Shai “expounds on a number of the core teachings of the historic Christian faith. Think Wayne Grudem’s ‘Systematic Theology’, but with rugged drums” (see source).
“Grace Amazing” by Jimmy Needham (ft. Trip Lee)
Jimmy Needham, in his song, “Grace Amazing” (from his album, Nightlights) truly does present grace as it ought to be presented, amazing. And how does he do this? The same way any good Soteriology (doctrine of salvation) does–by starting with a good Hamartiology (doctrine of sin), namely, our total inability or total depravity. As Needham says, “That’s how it is with us all. We weren’t just damaged we fell dead at the fall.” And in doing so he recognizes that salvation is dependent on God’s sovereign grace. “Unless You breathe life into me I won’t ever feel my dead heart beating. But you open these blind eyes to see.” And the fact that God has made believers alive, who once were dead and could not give life to themselves, is what makes grace amazing. The Blind don’t give themselves sight; God does. In short, grace is amazing because the recipients of grace had no part in it. “That’s what makes Your grace amazing.”
The Music of Keith and Kristyn Getty
For Christmas, one of the gifts my wife got me was an iTunes gift card. Before Christmas, I must have mentioned to my wife my desire to purchase some new music by some artists that I liked but did not already own any of their tracks. One musical “group” (if I can accurately call them a group) of which I bought music was the Gettys–Keith and Kristyn Getty. You may know them by their very popular song, “In Christ Alone.” My current church, Lake Drive Baptist Church in Milwaukee, tends to sing many of their songs during congregational worship. This is partly how I came to enjoy their music so much–besides the fact that the lyrics are typically fantastic and rich! I would like to recommend their works to you.
“Before the Morning” by Josh Wilson
Josh Wilson presents some great truths regarding present suffering, trials, and pain that believers may and will experience. Much of what his song, “Before the Morning,” says comes from the truths of Romans 8.
Romans 8:16-18 – The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Kirk E. Miller 