When we gather as a church and sing, we are seeking to drive the truths of the Gospel down into our hearts and minds that it might overflow into a life of worship. Our singing has Gospel implications, and so it matters. One song we sang together as a church yesterday during our Sunday gathering is I Boast No More.

I Boast No More is a hymn written by Isaac Watts, who is widely considered the Father of English Hymnody, as he is credited with roughly 750 hymns. The chorus and melody that we sing and have become familiar with at Providence were once again written and composed by Sandra McCracken. While working at Coram Deo Church in Omaha, we recorded this song on our 2010 full-length release Doxology.

I have been listening to one of my favorite albums this morning: Derek Webb’s 2003 release She Must and Shall Go Free. This album is a great interplay of the gospel – a back and forth dialogue between Jesus and His bride, the church. One song I particularly love and we sing regularly during our gathered worship at Providence is the seventh track “Awake My Soul.” It was originally written and composed by Sandra McCracken (Derek’s wife) in 2002, and the lyrics are rooted in the beauty of Christ’s supremacy and all-sufficient nature. In the verses we sing that Christ holds all things together, that God’s grace through Jesus provides all we need, and that He is bringing and will bring redemption to our brokenness. Then in the chorus we conclude and affirm that, because of all this, we boast only in God (Jer. 9:23-24) and His revelation in Christ (Gal. 6:14).

One thing I desire to do on this blog is to talk thoughtfully about – and share – good music. Recorded music, live music, music for gathering worship, music for a road trip or for dancing, indie music, music from the top 40 – any form, medium, or context. I particularly want to talk about good music. Music that tells a compelling story, is well-crafted, is lyrically beautiful, dynamic, vocally and melodically rich – music that is moving in some meaningful way. I am not making any claims of having the final voice on what is or is not “good” music. I simply wish to add whatever voice I do have to the cultivation of good music, and I hope that you will join me.