Worship Leader - March/April, 2007

“A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord

And make straight in the desert a highway for our God”

Congregational Accessibility

Musical Art

Production

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” ( Hebrews 4: 12 ESV).

Third Day’s Mac Powell and evangelist David Nasser’s vision for Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship is beautifully captured in its commitment to exalt God through the celebration of Scripture.

With contributions from various artists who share in the vision, the core of this record is in the acoustic mold but can easily be adapted to other styles. There is a nice balance of slow, mid-tempo and upbeat songs that any worship leader will appreciate. Certain songs, like “He Will Rejoice” and “Altar of God,” are easy to sing along with the first time through, while others took some repetition to learn the verses. This may be because the lyrics have been taken directly from Scripture and do not have predictable rhyme or meter. On a whole, I actually like the way the words integrate with the melodies and serve to maintain the integrity of the Scriptures.

There is power in declaring God’s Word in unity during worship. Together we are washed in the Word as we lift our voices and commit our hearts. The essence of this is richly displayed on “By His Wounds,” written from Isaiah 53: 5 and performed by Mac Powell, Steven Curtis Chapman, Brian Littrell and Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall. I am moved by the tenderness in their individual offerings being lifted up as one sacrifice of praise.

While I look forward to using these songs in future worship sets, I am equally blessed just listening to this album during my daily to-dos letting the Word settle in my heart and reveal God’s glory.

From the opening notes plucked out on the banjo, soon followed by the fiddle, you realize that this is not going to be what many have come to call “modern worship.” But what a welcome change. The whole feel of Glory Revealed is under-produced and inviting to the listener. The arrangements are sparse and tasteful with a distinct Americana kind of vibe. It has been said, to get someone’s attention try whispering. I find myself leaning in to this project.

As you lean in you recognize some of Christian music’s most memorable vocalists. I find myself playing a game of “name that singer” with the likes of Mac Powell, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Hall, Tim Neufeld (from Starfield), Michael W. Smith and many other favorites. I appreciate hearing them sing in an unplugged kind of setting without all the usual big production that would normally accompany them on a recording. It feels like you’re at a backyard barbeque on a spring day with folks breaking out their guitars and fiddles, singing easy melodies in a relaxed gathering. Nobody is trying to sell you or jam a musical hook down your throat. Glory Revealed goes down easy.

The other thing that really stands out is that nearly all the lyrics are straight from Scripture. I enjoyed having it play while making coffee and getting ready for the day. Just filling my kitchen with the Word of God mirrored the peaceful feeling that I got from this collection. A lot of the songs remind me of the Scripture in Zephaniah that declares “He [God] rejoices over us with singing.”

There is a prophetic voice ringing through many of the songs that deliver scriptural promises right to your heart. Glory Revealed is a great way to renew your mind for the journey of the day.

Everything God has ever done, and everything He will forever do, He does with one intent: to reveal Himself and to receive honor and glory. Nowhere is that more clearly seen than through the Word: Jesus, the Word made flesh and the Bible, the written Word.” – David Nasser

Every record starts with a vision before the first note is ever played in the studio. From the first tracks, “He Will Rejoice” and “By His Wounds” to the title track, Glory Revealed, this vision becomes real on this record.

Producer, Mac Powell, has gathered an array of artists including Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Brian Littrell and Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall, as well as Trevor Morgan, Hyper Static Union’s Shawn Lewis, David Crowder, Shane & Shane, Candi Pearson-Shelton, Josh Bates and Starfield’s Tim Neufeld. The project is also mixed by Jim Dineen and mastered by Hank Williams.

This recording is a lesson in understanding that with great songs less can indeed be more. Powell and Nasser have gathered a unique blend of songs that clearly communicate the written Word through simple arrangements filled with guitars, banjos, fiddles, harmonicas and percussion, yet leaving space for the artist’s soulful vocals. With a heart of worship that shines through, nothing else needs to be added.