Beating Time
TITLE: LIFESONG
ARTISTS: Casting Crowns
WEBSITE: www.castingcrowns.com/
PRICE: £10.00
FORMAT: CD (11 tracks, 52 minutes)
STYLE: Christian Rock
COL316: 4 stars
MUSIC: 4 stars
LYRICS: 4 stars
PRODUCTION: 5 stars
SINGABILITY: 3 stars
OVERALL: 4 stars
Another excellent CD from the band of youth workers based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The lyrics all come from the pen of youth pastor and front man, Mark Hall, and there are plenty of them!
Mark sets the tone in the intro to the CD booklet: ‘The words in these songs will never come close to, and were not intended to come alongside, the Scripture, as if God’s word needed any help. That’s why these Scripture verses are listed with each song. God’s word is the supreme authority, “living and active” and “useful for teaching” and encouraging one to the Father. We challenge you to study the Scriptures below and pray that God touches your heart as he has touched ours.’
And I’d have to say that the goods are pretty much as described. The songs are all delivered with plenty of energy and conviction. Sometimes the poetry gets a bit tired (e.g. at least two songs rhyme ‘people’ with ‘steeple’), but the message is direct and challenging, even if a little sentimental (even ‘God bless America’) at times.
‘Worship is so much more than the songs I sing. Instead, worship is in the heart that lifts the song. If you think about it, worship began when I woke up this morning. My life purpose is to give God glory through everything I do. If my life does not worship him, my songs don’t either.’
