A Great Collection of Cross-Centered Songs; Half Already Rel
Jacob Hantla | Chandler, AZ United States | 09/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"According to my iTunes, Sovereign Grace Music is by far the most-oftened played tracks in my music collection. The songs on Songs for the Cross Centered Life help me do exactly what CJ Mahaney suggests that music do in his book The Cross Centered Life, "Sing about the cross...with songs and hymns that speak of the cross with clarity and power."According to my iTunes, Sovereign Grace Music is by far the most-oftened played tracks in my music collection. The songs on Songs for the Cross Centered Life help me do exactly what CJ Mahaney suggests that music do in his book The Cross Centered Life, "Sing about the cross...with songs and hymns that speak of the cross with clarity and power." My wife lovingly bought this CD for me for my birthday. I was elated and popped it in...the first two songs--"The Gospel Song" and "The Glories of Calvary"--were new and I loved them. I even repeated "The Glories of Calvary" before moving on. The thing is, from there on out there are only 5 more out of the remaining 12 tracks are new. The rest are already in my collection from other Sovereign Grace Music albums. I really wish that some more time had been taken to get some additional songs new songs on the album.
Nevertheless, if you do not own all of the Sovereign Grace Music CDs, this is an excellent place to start. I hope that this CD would quickly rise to a favorite place in your collection as the Words of each and every song truly are cross-centered and are written in a way that I have never seen outside of Sovereign Grace that shepherds your heart into God's presence each and every time you sing them.
Thanks again, Sovereign Grace, for another collection of awesome songs.
[...]"
Simply the Best!!!
Gregory Nyman | Winchendon, MA United States | 02/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the first collection from Sovereign Grace Music I've purchased, and I'll have to admit that it's one of the most awesome collection of songs on the market, but of course, it's kind of a rare collection in most Christian Book Stores. Usually you have to go to the website or look for it on Amazon or some other site. "I Will Glory in My Redeemer" has to be one of the favorites, but they all stand on their own, from the beginning intro, to the upbeat second song, and all the way to the end. It's kind of like a story which is woven throughout the album, focusing on Christ and His glory through the Cross, and our need for Him alone. I can't recommend this collection enough, and I've just gotten a second collection which I hope to be listening to repeatedly and then reviewing. I must've listened to this dozens of times already, and each time I listen to them, they are fresh and brand new again. Highly recommended. I give it a RESOUNDING TEN!!!"
The Song or the Performance?
R. Berman | Tennessee | 07/01/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"A collection of modern hymns can be viewed from several different angles. How are the songs themselves, simply as melodies and words one might use in corporate worship? How are these particular versions of the songs, taking into additional consideration the arrangements and performances? Viewed from this second vantage point, Songs for the Cross-Centered Live is just OK. Nothing detestable, nothing exceptional in the vocals, orchestration, or musicianship. It's acoustic pop MOR adult contemporary at its MORest, suitable for all the soccer moms who fund Christian radio around the country. Nothing wrong with that; it is what it is.
The real value of this CD is that it collects some excellent contemporary hymns about Christ's atoning work, a sadly under-represented theme in church singing today, if the CCLI song charts are any indication. "Before the Throne of God" is the one with which I was most familiar. This version is quite slow for my preference, but it's still an outstanding song. "Wonderful Savior" and "This Fathomless Love" and "I Come By the Blood" deserve serious consideration as well. This is the kind of music Christians need to patronize to get church music out of the "seven words sung eleven times" ghetto of trite and thoughtless worship music."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1