Friends:
Welcome to the First Pres Contemporary Music email/blog, dedicated to enhancing your Contemporary Christian music experience!
In Christ,
Mark
SONG OF THE WEEK This week’s feature is Matt Maher’s “TURN AROUND”, from THE LOVE IN BETWEEN. Maher has written catchy songs we know and love, including HOLD US TOGETHER and OVERFLOW, but TURN AROUND might be his catchiest to date. It sounds like a Toby Keith song, both in the voice Matt uses to sing it and the style – country rock (is there such a thing? Modern country music isn’t country, it’s pop rock with a hint of twang, but I digress).
Anyway, TURN AROUND sounds like an anthem. It’s meant to lift us with a promise, and I think it does, but it deals with dark, sad material. There are so many times we feel lonely even though we are not alone, or as Maher says, that “you don’t matter”. Do you say this to yourself on occasion — Does anybody really care about me? Does anyone really hear me? I’m drowning. I can’t deal with this.
Maher’s smart enough not to promise roses from God – he says “well I won’t say that love won’t take away the pain, But don’t be afraid ‘Cause it will never walk away”.
Outside of the obvious, it’s interesting to think about what Maher means by “turn around” when it comes to God. I think a lot of times we want God to save us from a specific pain or problem, but we aren’t willing to talk to him about it and listen to what he has to say. Try this sometime when you are alone – I’ve talked to God in a plain conversation and stated my case and question – “God, this sucks. Why is this happening to me? What can I do about it?” Then, I’ve forced myself to be quiet and see what comes to my mind on the topic. Amazing what the answers are if you are still and listen. So “turn around” to me is active – face God, hear him out, then be prepared to do things you don’t want to do.
TURN AROUND
Young man on the side of the road
Lost and beat up with nowhere to go
Smells like a hangover from days ago
He does what he can to survive
Single mom with a dead end job
Ninety hour week just to keep what she’s got
With the bills that add up and now she’s caught
She does what she can to survive
Well, let me say
That love won’t take away the pain
But don’t be afraid
‘Cause it will never walk away
[Chorus]
If you’re scared that you don’t matter
If you’re lost and need to be found
If you’re looking for a Savior
All you gotta do is turn around
Some turn to a bottle
Some turn to a drug
Some turn to another’s arms
But it seems like it’s never enough
Well I won’t say, that you will never fail again
But there is grace
Courtesy of lyricshall.com
To wash away your every sin
[Chorus]
No one listens to you anymore
And your heart has broken down
You don’t need to move
Love has come to you
All you gotta do is turn around
All you gotta do is turn around
Turn around
You don’t have to take the broken road
You can turn around and come back home
[x3]
[Chorus]
No one listens to you anymore
And your heart has broken down
You don’t need to move
Love has come to you
All you gotta do is turn around
All you gotta do is turn around
You can hear TURN AROUND here, track 2 http://jesusfreakhideout.com/listeningparty/party7.asp
SONGS THIS WEEK: Partial list includes GOD WILL LIFT UP YOUR HEAD, HOPE TO CARRY ON, GRACE LIKE RAIN
VERSE(s) OF THE WEEK:
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. … Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
Psalm 27:7,9-10
FEATURED MUSIC Songs we are listening to – some for church, and some for just the fun of it. Let us know what you think of them!
UPCOMING CONCERTS
DAVID CROWDER BAND, November 6, Manatee Civic Center, Bradenton
CASTING CROWNS, SANTUS REAL, THE AFTERS, November 18th, Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa SOLD OUT
