The love of Christ is rich and free.

My wonderful husband recently bought me a new CD, and I am so impressed with it that I decided all 3 of you who read this blog should hear about it. It’s called “The Builder and the Architect” by Sandra McCracken. You may be more familiar with her husband, Derek Webb, or with the band that he writes/sings/plays guitar with, Caedmon’s Call (she does a good bit of writing for Caedmon’s, too). First of all, let me say that I LOVE Sandra’s music. Second of all, I love hymns. These two things make it impossible for me NOT to like this album. It’s a collection of hymns, old and new, put to new music, arrangements, etc. Most of the song lyrics were written well over a hundred years ago, and Sandra has just written new music for them (although there are a couple on there that she wrote). Just because something is old doesn’t necessarily make it good…but then it doesn’t necessarily make it bad either. I think we dismiss “hymns” far too often because we have somehow come to the conclusion that they are old, worn-out, and boring. This is a tragedy that needs to be reversed. So many of the old hymn lyrics are full of scripture, doctrine, and descriptions of the human need for and delight in God, as well as biblical descriptions of God’s love for us and the grace and mercy He offers us. What better way to reintroduce these masterpieces than to write new music for them that brings the words to life again? This is a CD that is well worth your money. I hope that these songs, as well as many others like them, will more and more be included in corporate worship services across the country.

The love of Christ is rich and free;
Fixed on His own, eternally;
Nor earth, nor hell, can it remove;
Long as He lives, His own He’ll love.