Monday, December 8, 2008

It's Time To Wake Up!

We had a great unexpected blessing to our weekend by getting some last minute tickets to the Casting Crowns Christmas Concert at Phillips Arena last night. I have their new Christmas album, and have really enjoyed listening to it, but to hear it live and understand the stories behind the songs made for a very memorable time. One of the songs that Mark Hall talked about was "O Little Town Of Bethlehem". I guess I had never really considered what that song was all about. His rendition and explanation brought a whole new meaning to the song for me......

Oh little town of Bethlehem Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep A giant star lights up the sky
And while you’re lying in the dark There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne And is sleeping in a manger tonight
Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save
Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping While you were sleeping

United States of America Looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned And has carried His bride away in the night
America, what will we miss while we are sleeping Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping Will we be sleeping

Behind the Song:“I set out to set the classic hymn “Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem” to new music and, in the process, rediscovered the song and its message. They slept through it. Bethlehem missed the birth of the Savior of the world. Jerusalem did the same with Jesus’ ministry among them. Seems crazy – til we as a nation look in the mirror.” - Mark Hall (Casting Crowns)

Wake Up America!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

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