06.18.08
NEW CD REVIEW…20/20 BY TRIP LEE
As a pastor, one of my great pleasures is to introduce believers to material which will help them to grow in their faith, grow in their knowledge and appreciation of God, and to share with them the resources which God has used to encourage and equip me for the Christian race. I’m pleased to recommend to you a new CD from reach records, entitled 20/20. This is Trip Lee’s new release, presented in the form of Christian Hip-Hop music. I want to give my impressions of the CD and point you to a few of the tracks which might challenge and edify you in your walk with Christ.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS AND OVERVIEW…When I first began listening to the CD in my car, I noticed a few marked differences from Trip’s first CD (If They Only Knew). His initial CD I believe was perhaps a once in a lifetime accomplishment. It is marked by such clarity, forcefulness and awesome lyrics and themes that knocked my socks off. I was stunned, inspired and hooked from the very first track. His current CD, (20/20) hits me a little differently. Yes the quality is there, yes the lyrics are challenging and biblical, but it is a different kind of listening experience from his first CD in my opinion. One thing that makes or breaks a CD or song for me is its ‘listenability’ (yes I made up that word)…how easy it is to listen to, how clearly it’s message comes across.
I noticed on 20/20 that the music track (instruments) often overshadow the lyrical track (the words, the message). In my opinion this makes the initial impression of any song less impacting, because it takes greater concentration and effort to pull the theme and message out of the song, it requires more focus and concentrated attention. This problem goes away after several listenings, or by reading the lyrics provided on the lyric sheet. One kudo to reach records is that they provide the lyrics to every song on the CD on their website, which is a great benefit to my old ears, which sometimes miss an important word or phrase.
My appreciation for the lyrics and message of 20/20 overshadows the unbalanced mixing of instrumental levels. By taking the time to read and listen closely to each song, I have a great admiration for this CD, and the help it can provide to believers in every walk of life. Here are a few titles and my overview of them.
1) 20/20 INTRO…This track gives us an idea where the CD will take us, namely to a better focused view of our great God and Savior. Anything that raises our perspective and appreciation of God will benefit us, and Trip and his fellow musicians have graced us by urging us to look upward with them, see the greatness of God, and worship Him for who He truly is. Several of the tracks caution us against false views of God which are always unhelpful and dangerous.
3) REAL VISION…here Trip challenges us to examine our understanding and concept of the Godhead. The thrust is, if your view of God isn’t taken directly from the scriptures, you may be worshiping a false god, a god of your own making. The closing line on this track…”I pray we erase the wrong views and embrace the Holy Word that testifies to us about the Savior.”
4) INEXHAUSTIBLE…A wonderful reminder that our God is beyond our complete understanding, and His grace and mercy are inexhaustible, along with our apprehension of Him.
5) WHO IS LIKE HIM?… With a theme taken from the pages of scripture itself, we are confronted with the question from God, “Who is like me?” We need to be daily reminded that we are like grass, life is short and fleeting, but God is eternal and all powerful. Amen!
6) WE TOLD EM…Here we are challenged with the failure of modern Christianity, telling people about the Savior, but not living for Him every day. Too often the moniker of ‘hypocrite’ is deserved by nominal believers. Listen and be convicted, and repent- for God’s glory.
7) CLING TO YOU…a very necessary reminder that our faith in Christ must be a faith that endures in EVERY situation, not only when things are going good for us. A chastening for shallow ‘easy-believism’ and prosperity preaching.
8) RELIEF…A call for believers to ‘rest’ in our Savior.
9) BEHOLD THE SPIRIT…A correcting view of the person, work and worship of God’s Holy Spirit. A biblical understanding of Him will keep believers from error and benefit them in their pursuit of godliness.
10) SATISFACTION…A great song that takes me back to my readings of “The sufficiency of Christ” by John MacArthur and “Desiring God” by John Piper. Who is our hope and joy in life? What is our desire and pleasure? Christ, and Christ alone. Praise God!
11) COME CLOSE…And you will get a review of the work of God in the scriptures in this track. We are taken on a quick survey of God’s work for mankind from Genesis to Revelation…listen and be reminded and then worship God for His love for His people.
13) INTIMACY…We are asked to evaluate who or what gives us meaning, pleasure and purpose in life. As believers, it is to be Christ, not the world.
14) TRUE SECURITY…Another track that help us evaluate and remember that Christ is able to do abundantly more than we can even imagine, especially when life looks hopeless.
15) EYES OPEN…Wow! This song show us our TRUE condition, from the moment we are born until the day we are saved by God’s grace through Jesus our Savior. The world’s eyes are closed to this truth, that we are born depraved sinners, under the wrath and condemnation of a Holy God. EVERYONE needs to have their eyes opened to this biblical truth, for until we see and repent of our sinfulness, we have no hope of redemption in Christ. (Personal note…Just last week when being disciplined for her disobedience and rebellion, when asked why she was acting this way, our 3 year old grandaughter replied…”Because my heart is black. I want to do what is right, but sometimes I want to do what is bad. I need Jesus to help me do what is right.” I pray that this is evidence that God is revealing to her her true condition, and that He will graciously draw her to Himself in His perfect time, by bringing her to the cross in repentance and faith in the shed blood of Jesus, for true and eternal salvation. May he completely give her open eyes to see and love His truth in the Scriptures)
I wholeheartedly recommend this CD to anyone who can acquire it. I hope that you will prayerfully listen to the messages and do some serious self-examination, as we are exhorted to by scripture. I trust you will be edified and led to glorify God more faithfully, and that you will, with me, thank God for providing us with a resource such as this, and with musicians who minister for God’s praise and glory!
TO GOD ALONE, BE THE GLORY!
