Rejoice -- Ben Shive, Bryan Fowler, Keith + Kristyn Getty, Skye Peterson

 

What began as an inspiration from an anonymous author, and from a time over two or three millennia ago, coalesced into something broader with the help of five 21^st Century songwriters. The home of Keith and Kristyn Getty was the scene (see the map of County Londonderry made in 1837, with Portstewart, where the Gettys live, shown outlined in a blue circle) where this pair had invited three others – Ben Shive, Bryan Fowler, and Skye Peterson – to work out a new song they simply entitled “Rejoice”. It’s a theme that not only the original psalmist captured in six short verses of poetry, but which was also picked up by a 1^st Century writer who knew all about this emotional context even if it stood in stark contrast to his own circumstances. Even the Creator Himself would say that praise and rejoicing must be heard, lest the rocks (stones) cry out instead (Luke 19:40).

 

Bryan Fowler first suggested the theme of rejoicing to the group assembled in Northern Ireland, and it quickly stirred the imaginations of the rest of the group (sometime either in, or in the months preceding 2022). Bryan had evidently been reading what the ancient and unknown psalmist had written, and which we now call Psalm 150, especially verse six that is the capstone of the psalms. Bryan’s spark had already allowed him to concoct a chorus based on Psalm 150:6, and the others, especially Kristyn, felt that this spirit of praise was not something based on one’s comfortable conditions, and in fact should ring out despite what someone was experiencing. The apostle Paul’s Philippians 4:4 message to ‘Rejoice!’ spoke to them collectively. These five could not have missed that Paul’s exclamation came though he was experiencing imprisonment at the time. They acknowledged amongst each other that ‘sing(ing) the bible’ meant that anxieties we humans endure, particularly among young people, cannot be ignored. Indeed, that’s where the Christian truths come into play, so that people look upward to recall Jesus’ promises, to pray for one another, to be thankful to Him in all things, and to offer praise as a sign of courage and trust. Their lyrics especially echo what the psalmist and Paul spoke so that others would follow, though difficulties intrude on one’s joy – ‘…be anxious for nothing’ (v.2), ‘the dark cannot destroy’ (v.3), and ‘…throughout every season’ (chorus), we all have reason to lift up a shout of rejoicing. Some might even call ‘Rejoice’ an anthem, something we use to re-center ourselves daily, to remind us that He is worthy and should be the focus of our beings.

 

The Gettys, Bryan Fowler, Ben Shive, and Skye Peterson would be the first to admit that they had recorded something in ‘Rejoice’ that was not new. And yet, the number of times that this refrain is repeated in the bible’s pages underscores that what they have produced musically is reflective of what God wants us to never forget. Run a search in your own bible app for forms of the words rejoice and praise…it should be constantly on our lips, if we recall His character and His actions for us. These five composers have not left those Godly character traits and the transport He gives as mysteries for us – ‘love’, ‘gentleness’, ‘goodness’ ‘grace’ (v.1); that He is ‘peace’, a ‘shepherd’, and ‘reigns eternal’ (v.2); that He gives us ‘hope’ and ‘joy yet to come’ (v.3) – those are what He possesses and translates as offerings to you and me. How could you turn down such an offer?    

Read and hear the entire story of the song’s development here: The Story Behind: Rejoice

 

Read some brief comments about the song’s purpose (from Keith Getty) here: Keith & Kristyn Getty & Rend Collective – Rejoice Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

 

See information on the map-graphic here: File:1837Londonderry.jpg - Wikimedia Commons…This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer. {{PD-1996}} – public domain in its source country on January 1, 1996 and in the United States. This map-graphic may be found inside this article: County Londonderry - Wikipedia

Is He Worthy? -- Andrew Peterson, Ben Shive

 

He thought others were doing what already needed to be done, until he read something that made him imagine an upcoming scene. Andrew Peterson says he was stunned when he read in the bible’s last book  a question that was asked and then answered in a resounding way – a question that came to be his song’s title – “Is He Worthy?” The church in Nashville (see map-graphic here for the location of Nashville) where Andrew had been spending his time in 2008 had reminded him that ‘church’ is not just for consuming, for mere watching by a bunch of people content to sit on their hands. Instead, if believers want a preview of what worshipping will be like, just look at what John was permitted to see while holed up in an island penal colony. Along with his musical collaborator Ben Shive, Andrew brought to fruition something that adds to communal worship and reminds believers what ‘church’ is for: to tell each other what’s most important, to celebrate and practice eternity’s purpose in bringing Him glory. It’s not just what awaits in the future. It’s now.

 

Andrew recalls that there was plenty of order to the worship service in the church where he was raised, something called liturgy. The word literally means ‘the work of the people’, a concept that most people probably accept implicitly when it comes to ‘orderly worship’, because even Paul wrote more than a few words to some Corinthian believers who apparently were struggling with this idea (1 Cor. 14:26-40). Nobody would want to be part of a chaotic assembly that lacked focus and stumbled as it tried to glorify God amidst a cacophony. But you wouldn’t want worship practices to become rote, either. What Andrew says he appreciates about the liturgy in the Nashville church is the involvement of the people in doing various acts to edify one another. Everyone participates. Up until he began working on something he called Resurrection Letters – a new album of worship hymns – Andrew admits that he thought plenty of other contemporary Christian songwriters were filling the need for corporate worship music. And then, as he began the journey of thinking and writing about the resurrection, Andrew’s opinion changed. What he read and could see in his mind’s eye as Revelation chapter 5 washed over him gave him the inspiration for ‘Is He Worthy?’. There seemed to be a liturgy embedded in the exchange between an angel who asks Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? (5:2), which finds no one on earth or in heaven – except Jesus – capable of accomplishing this task. ‘Jesus is!’ That’s the answer that all beings in heaven and on earth can exclaim in response to the question ‘Is He Worthy?’ That was the foundation of how Andrew saw this new song contributing. The worship leader asks the questions, and we respond with our answers that lead us to Jesus each time. In heaven, it will be simple and yet powerful in His presence – He’ll be the only focus.

 

While we’re still here on earth, Andrew and Ben have asked so many other questions that we earthbound beings, for now, must answer. It’s all about seeing this world that He made, and acknowledging that it is broken, for the time being. He can – and will -- remake it. It might be rather dark and grim at times, but we can trust that He cares for those He has made. Like a worn-out piece of equipment, this planet we call home groans and creaks, people go down to their graves, and evil seems to pervade the space. But the way Andrew has crafted this call-and-response song, we don’t have to avoid the truth in these questions. Things are not as we wish they would be, but we know God. Andrew and Ben remind us that He’s ‘light’, the ‘Lion of Judah’ and ‘David’s root’, the ‘Lamb’, the ‘grave-conqueror’, the ‘ransom-payer’, and He is ‘love’. All those things, and so many more, declare that He is worthy. For every ‘people and tribe’, every ‘tongue and nation’, He has all of us covered with His great wings, a metaphor that many songwriters have used to remind us that everyone of us is under His protection. He wants you and me in ‘the kingdom’, wants to ‘hold (us) forever’, wants us ‘to reign with the Son’, and has ‘His Spirit mov(ing) among us’. I might feel weak in my faith at times, but all He needs is my mustard seed (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6). OK? He’s the one who has to be Almighty. Just let Him. John saw and trusted that He’s the only one worthy. That’s still true.           

 

Read the story here: Story Behind Chris Tomlin's New Song "Is He Worthy?" : News : JubileeCast and here: Andrew Peterson’s New Song for the People

 

See information on the map-image of Davidson County (where Nashville is) here, including the public domain status of the graphic: File:Map of Tennessee highlighting Davidson County.svg - Wikimedia Commons . The following statement is associated with the graphic re: its public domain status: I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: I grant anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

Heaven Came Down – John Willard Peterson

You could say that two gentleman, perhaps two generations apart in age, wrote this song. Forty-year-old John Peterson probably did not suspect as he guided singing one day that another older man would in fact guide him to a song. But, “Heaven Came Down” through that on-the-spot coincidence of these two fellows in northeast Pennsylvania (see picture of Montrose here) in 1961, producing this musical story just a week later. You don’t know when two paths may intersect to germinate something special, but do you suppose composers are more attuned to unpredictable circumstances and the possibilities they bring?

It came about during a summer in Montrose, near the Pennsylvania-New York border in 1961, but it’s fair to say the pump had already been primed for many years in more ways than one for a musical fountain to flow. A white-haired man known only as ‘old Jim’ had evidently been converted to the Christian faith some years previously, although that experience must have still been fresh in his mind as he stood to tell his story. It was a bible conference that brought the old man to that place where the comparative youngster John Peterson was directing the forum’s singing. Peterson had been engaged in musical enterprises ever since his teenage years, including in Montrose for the Singspiration Musical Company for the previous seven years. He was a music pro. So, when he asked for folks in the crowd to share their stories, did he in fact suspect someone might recite something unique? Was he searching for that next hit? Did the music that day motivate ‘old Jim’ (we can guess from the description of him with white hair that he might have been around 80 years old or more) to pour something from his heart in a new way? Some things evidently coalesced, for when Jim uttered the words of the chorus’ first line, they captured John’s attention, who says he knew immediately this one would be a first-rate effort. The seed of the song—its embryo—is what Peterson says is most important, and he heard it that day, and saw it on the face of Jim. The old man’s face may have been wrinkled, but he radiated something potent. He’d been in contact with His Spirit, kinda like Moses, and his insides just couldn’t keep it hid.

So “Heaven Came Down” off John Peterson’s pen about a week later, perhaps as he recalled not just ‘old Jim’s’ words, but his face too. John, over the decades, wrote some 1,000 tunes, prompting one to imagine that he must have seen and heard similar faces and words as he lived and carried out his musical ministry. Montrose…it could be like any other little town in America, population about 1,500 people. But, He’s not too particular about the size and location of a place. Nazareth --  what good could come from there? Are you in a Nazareth today? Look at the faces, hear the voices…     

The following sources provided background for this story:

 Stories Behind Popular Songs and Hymns, by Lindsay Terry, Baker Book House 1990 and 1992; and The Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs, by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, 2006, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Also see this site: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/p/e/t/peterson_jw.htm

Background on the song’s birthplace: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montrose,_Pennsylvania