Passionate Portrayal of Love | Posted September 13, 2011
In beckoning beauty comes Jeremy Riddle, singer/songwriter and recent new addition to Bethel Church's stable of anointed worship leaders in Redding, Calif. With healing and soaring anthems, Riddle's third album, Furious, is a profound worship experience.
In a hushing and acoustic invitation, “Fall Afresh” calls for the Holy Spirit to not only show up, but fill every part of the individual. The song calls for renewed hunger, seeking, and thirst in Him. An undeniable top of the lung worship tune, “Furious,” comes in rock-fused attire that captures the album's entity.
As Riddle himself states, “It's hard to come up with words that depict the magnitude of Christ's love--the depth and width of it. Furious doesn't work outside of the context of love; we tend to translate the word as angry, but I see it as a super-powerful force; stronger, deeper, broader than our vocabulary can fully describe.”
With Brit piano pop and glistering guitars, the serene “Love Came Down” sings of the love that came down to rescue us. The song reminds one that life and our identity is only truly found in this love. “One Thing Remains” resounds softly that God's unfailing love never gives up nor runs out.
The enthusiastic “Acquitted" declares God's goodness that has removed our trespasses and given us a new hope, and the danceable praise “You Are Good” engagingly contemplates the same truth.
With a hauntingly beautiful piano and string arrangement, “Walk In His Promise” calls upon complete dependence and trust in our Lord. The effulgent “One Thirst and Hunger” excavates the heart of the worshiper seeking God's face with intensity. “Glory to the Lamb” points out that our worship is offering complete surrender and the very best of ourselves.
Galvanized in soft pop texture, “The Lord is My Shepherd” echoes the 23rd Psalm, restoring and ministering to the soul. The tranquilizing “Here” allows one to meditate upon God's kingdom being here on Earth as we fall deeper and deeper in love with our King. In placid folk and gentle electric piano, “Always” evokes a magnificent obsession with Him.
Closing Thoughts:
Jeremy Riddle skillfully strides into a new direction. “This record is different because I wasn't intentionally seeking out songs for specific needs or situations," he said. "Worship songwriters should always ask if the content of their songs is really the word offering of our heart or simply a well-crafted lyric. I continuously tried to direct my focus onto delivering authentic expressions of my heart over something catchy and quotable.”
The album is not just a listen-through, but an actual invite to worship and mediate upon God's massive love. Throughout the album one can not but contemplate and be awed by this never-ending, furious love.
It's important to note that more than a third of the songs have appeared in the Bethel Live Be Lifted High album, but in a new studio recording format.
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