Pariah: Songs of Biblical Outcasts
by
Aryn What You Need to Know: Aryn Michelle is a Texas singer who begun recording secular albums and then Christian ones. Pariah is a collection...
A Study of Pariahs in the Bible | Posted May-28-2022 What You Need to Know:
Aryn Michelle is a Texas singer who begun recording secular albums and then Christian ones. Pariah is a collection of songs inspired by biblical characters who found themselves to be an outcast at some point in their lives. The characters are Job, Ruth and Naomi, John the Baptist, Jesus, Leah, Moses, Joseph, Zacchaeus, David and the woman caught in adultery. It reflects what they struggled with and where they turned for breakthrough and for comfort. It asks what lessons we can learn from them and apply ourselves.
What it Sounds Like:
There’s so much to these songs. They have the richness of a Bible study, the songwriting is excellent and deep; the fresh, exciting and original arrangements complement the subject matter, as does the vocal performance. This really doesn’t sound like any other Christian album release; it will impact you on a surprising level and cause you to think how you are going to live differently because of it.
Spiritual Highlights:
Second-hand love is written from Leah’s perspective as she’s ‘somehow not enough… I kind of win, I kind of lose: Second-hand love.’ Cast a Stone has several different twists on the phrase ‘Who will be the first to cast a stone?’ for the woman caught in adultery, ending ‘Who is this man? Unashamed to Stand at my defence. What is this love that forgives like this?’ Shadow of Your Wings is a heart-felt psalm of worship inspired by David: ‘When every well has been bled dry, Lord I am thirsty. When every cup is on its side, Lord won't fill me… Open your spring, pouring out your mercy over me because all that I need Is here within the shadow of your wings.’
Best Song on the Record:
It is fitting that the best song on the album, is Pariah, about the outcast Jesus. ‘He was a prophet without honour in his hometown… Exposed the truth to those around him… He was a teacher who was not welcome in the righteous crowd… Wise man painted as a fool… Royalty treated like a criminal, Prince of Peace overcoming wars of the world, Son of God living like the least of us: He died a pariah, raised to life the Messiah’ It really is good.
For Fans Of:
This is quite unlike anyone else in terms of songwriting and musical arrangement.
Final Word:
This collection will feed you spiritually and help you lean on God through your own challenges.
Dante Bowe: Voice of God | Posted October-02-2020
This song is notable in that it is twelve minutes long. A collaboration between Dante Bowe, Steffany Gretzinger and Chandler Moore. It's an interesting mixture of pop and gospel, of sincere spontaneity and crafted songwriting.
Co-written with and featuring Matt Redman | Posted September-11-2020
This song is interesting partly because it is a duet with Matt Redman, and Lucy Grimble co-wrote it with him. 'Nothing Can Separate' is the latest single from Lucy's forthcoming studio album. Based on Romans 8:39-39, Lucy explains: “The fact that God loves us regardless of our situations is difficult to fully wrap our heads around. We are so used to a conditional form of love that always asks for something in return, or withholds itself if we don’t 'perform' or behave right”. But this is not the kind of love that the cross speaks about. The love that Jesus shows us is one that is offered freely and without limits. It’s a love that stops at nothing. In the midst of very challenging global circumstances, this is a love that we don’t just need for ourselves, but that we need for one another too. So much seeks to divide us right now, but the grace and love of God is able to bring us back together again - not just to be reconciled to Him, but to be reconciled to one another as well.” Lucy adds: “It was such a joy to work with Matt on this song. He has such a gift for conveying powerful truths and is a real father in worship. I really pray that people are blessed by what we wrote and that this song becomes an anthem for the church - an anthem to the unconditional, life changing love of Jesus.”
Steven Curtis Chapman has been writing and singing great Christian music for more than thirty years. Recorded live at Gaither Studios, Steven performs some of his best songs in front of a small audience.
What It Sounds Like
Steven's sincere vocal delivery is accompanied only by his guitar, or in two cases, piano. There is no talking links between the songs.
Spiritual Highlights
In Glorious Unfolding, Chapman sings 'You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over, So hold on to every promise god has made to us, And watch this glorious unfolding.' In My Redeemer Is Faithful and True, he sings 'As I look back on the road I've travelled, I see so many times He carried me through; And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life, My Redeemer is faithful and true.' The song Cinderella was inspired by Steven's younger two daughters, and encourages to give the time of day to our children when we can, even when we're in the middle of something else. Chapman's youngest daughter died as a result of an accident in the family's driveway. The song now combines a call to cherish parenting while it lasts with a confident hope of life in the age to come.
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