Dangerous Wonder
Mike Yaconelli
The Worship Answer Book
Rick Warren
Systematic Theology
by Wayne Grudem
Reversed Thunder
by Eugene Peterson
The Parables of Jesus
by David Wenham
The Unquenchable Worshipper
by Matt Redman
The Divine Romance
by Gene Edwards
The Shadow of the Galilean
by Gerd Theissen
The challenge of Jesus
by N.T. Wright
I can’t remember if it was for Great Adventure or Live Adventure. I just remember the black and white checked shirt he was wearing - and the enormous hair cut! It definitely wasn’t his first Dove award of the evening, probably more like his 5th. But when he came up to give his speech I just remember watching with my parents and thinking that this is a man worth emulating. Steven Curtis Chapman’s acceptance speech went something like this. ‘I know that receiving this award is a great honor. But the man that we’re being honored for singing about tonight left this world without honor… and His name is Jesus Christ’. I can’t find it on YouYube, but his thoughts and words have stayed with me for the last decade.
Steven and his wife Beth continue to be an incredible inspiration to our family - especially through these last two years. So it really was with enormous surprise and joy that we heard that the song Hosanna (praise is rising), a song I wrote with one of my best friends Paul Baloche, is up for a couple Dove Award nominations - Worship Song Of The Year and Inspirational Recorded Song Of The Year (recorded by Selah).
It almost goes without saying that regardless of whether we win or not, the point of the song, our entire careers, and really the whole Christian Music Industry is to point honor towards Jesus. That we would see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow Him more nearly (thanks DC Talk). And without people like Steven and many, many others like him (Paul B included) there wouldn’t have been any kind Christian music career to aspire to. Thank you. And may our songs, and more importantly, our lives, bring honor to one who left this world without it. b
A short clip on how I play “Our God Is Mercy”.
How do we introduce new musicians (Part 2)?
How do you take old messages and make them new?
I can’t see why you’d have so much trouble finding a particular Dove Award acceptance speech from Steven Curtis Chapman. I mean, how many has he won over the years? 2, maybe 3?
Seriously though, even leaders need affirmation that they are on the right track. I don’t see the Dove Awards as lifting certain people up over others but rather encouragement to the artists putting Jesus before themselves.
Congrats to you and Paul on the well-deserved Dove nominations. Great song, hope it wins! (and hope you grace the red carpet in like fashion!
What I find interesting is that most CCM artists do not care for the awards, but all of them go to it to get their awards. Whats up with that?
I’m praying that the Dove Awards honor only one man; and one man only; Jesus Christ. And while this process chooses the way we all most enjoy lifting up His Name, it still lifts up HIS name. What an amazing life God has given you already; clearly He has anointed you to proclaim His Gospel in ways you haven’t even imagined yet! I’m so thankful for you, your songwriting, but mostly your humble heart! God can and will use a humble heart in unbelievable ways. May God continue to smile upon “Hosanna” as His people all over the world lift His name up in this song and worship Him in spirit and in Truth! And may your Dove experience be one that you come away inspired more than ever to proclaim God’s glory & Gospel to a lost and dying world. Blessings, brother …
Great reminder, perspective and reality check. Would that I consistently walked that out. Congrats in the noms.
Congrats Brenton “Gifford-is-my-second-name” Brown! It’s a great tune - one that I’ve enjoyed leading many many times. Acknowledging where the talent comes from is just as important as talent itself.
congrats brenton!
Congrats Brenton!
“…may our songs, and more importantly, our lives, bring honor to one who left this world without it.”
I couldn’t say it any better!
God Bless you richly…