0 Shades of Grace

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Details

A stand-up and shake the rafters Gospel tune about grace fiddled full of Americana flair. Think Chris Tomlin meets Nickel Creek.

Here is the newest single! This song will be on the upcoming full-length album, “White”. Thanks again to the amazing Nick Garrett-Powell for producing, recording, playing organ, bass, electric guitar and singing harmonies. We were also joined on this song by the legendary Jim Sitter on drums, and the superbly talented Alex Goldman on violin, thanks, Jim & Alex!!

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

Lyrics

Shades of Grace

I see your face
Clearly in the shades of grace
In the blood that wells up
From the crown of thorns you wore
In the debt you paid for me;
The wounds you gladly bore

The colors of your love are plain to see
In the pure white wool of the lamb
That was slain for me
And the bright red blood
That was shed to wash away
All of my sin
Now you see me covered in
Shades of grace

I see your name
Written in the stars, the universe proclaims
There’s no other name above the name of Jesus
You’re the way, the truth, and the life;
And you died to save us

I was covered in
The black-as-soot stains of my sin
Until you shed red blood
And made me white as snow again

Psalm 19:1-6; Isaiah 1:16-18; Matthew 27:26-54; Hebrews 1; 1 Peter 1:18-21

0 New Single “Shades of Grace”

Shades of Grace

Release Date: February 19, 2013

Today we released a new single, “Shades of Grace,” from the upcoming CD “White”. Think Sunday come ta meetin’, clap your hands and shake the rafters Gospel meets Americana; Tomlin plays Mellencamp. If you like this song please support the music by downloading from iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby or elsewhere! Thanks!

The colors of your love are plain to see
In the pure white wool of the lamb
That was slain for me
And the bright red blood
That was shed to wash away
All of my sin
Now you see me covered in
The shades of grace

Thanks again to the amazing Nick Garrett-Powell for producing, recording, playing organ, bass, electric guitar and singing harmonies. We were also joined on this song by the legendary Jim Sitter on drums, and the superbly talented Alex Goldman on violin, thanks, Jim & Alex!!

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

You can view more details about this single on the discography page: View More Details


0 Precious Is The Blood

I wrote this song on April 24, 2005.

This song is slated to be on a few upcoming projects as it fits for both my Hymns project and Easter project. I’ve been inspired lately after hearing several recently “revived hymns” by artists like Owl City and Jadon Lavik. So I decided to put my hand to reworking some of the rich lyrical heritage found in so many hymns, and hopefully breathe some revival into these songs that, for many congregations, have been gathering dust. This is one that I had written awhile ago and fits along with some of the others like “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” that I have done.

Instead of being a complete revisiting of an existing hymn, this song is more of a tip of the hat to the classic hymn by Robert Lowry, “Nothing But The Blood”, which is included briefly in the bridge. The rest of the song was inspired mostly from this passage in 1 Peter 1 that reminds us that we were redeemed and bought by the “precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. —1 Peter 1:18-21

The song begins by painting the beautiful picture of Jesus being the sinless, perfect Lamb of God, who stepped down to become a man and pay the penalty for our sins.

In the image of a Lamb
Holy God stepped down
To become a man
But remain a spotless
Sacrifice

It is hard for us to truly understand or imagine what it must have been like for God to step down and leave heaven to come and dwell among us, and yet He did so for wretched sinners like us!

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! —Philippians 2:6-8

The chorus then reinforces the main theme from the passage in 1 Peter 1 that we were redeemed and bought by the “precious blood of Christ”.

How precious is the blood
That washes me, that crimson flood
Now I’m as white as freshly fallen snow
I am clean and forgiven
This I know

It combines this with the beautiful imagery from Isaiah that compares how clean we become, after being washed by Jesus’ blood, to pure white snow.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. —Isaiah 1:18

The song goes on in the second verse to offer thanks for Jesus’ amazing sacrifice on the Cross. In light of this amazing gift we recognize that, though once we were lost and separated from God by our sin, now we are found and His! That is such fantastic good news that we should shout for joy and celebrate!

For the gift of the cross
I humbly bow and give you thanks
For without You I was lost
Now I am found, I am Yours
I’ll celebrate

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15) Truly how precious is the blood of our Savior that washes us clean!

The bridge neatly ties into the timeless lyrics of the traditional hymn, “Nothing But The Blood”, by Robert Lowry. It may have been penned in 1876, but is still just as relevant and true today! “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”

So tell me what can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
And what can make me whole again?
Oh, I say, nothing but the blood of Jesus

I hope you are encouraged and blessed by this song!

Truly, how precious is the blood!

You can listen to the audio for the single and find out more on the discography page or listen to the player below: View Discography

We also recently added a lyric video for the song that you can watch here: Watch Video Now

Scriptures referenced by this song:


0 Official Music Video for “Turn Your Eyes”

Turn Your Eyes - Official Music Video

Released: July 10, 2012

Yeah! The wait is over! Finally, here is the new Official Video for “Turn Your Eyes”. This video has been a labor of love for the past several months. A huge thanks to my good friends, Nate and Rayleigh Leavitt, at Photography and Video by Rayleigh for shooting & editing the video. Thanks to Nick Garrett-Powell for recording, producing & singing harmonies on the song, G. T. Albright for the drums and John Lingafelter for the stand-up bass.
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