I used my iTunes gift card (thanks Sean and Anna) on two great new albums from two of my favorite artists. They also both happen to have great album covers with old automobiles on them.

Thanks to my buddy (whom I will keep anonymous, assuming he would like his iTunes gift to be thus kept), I downloaded the new Andrew Peterson Album, Counting Stars. If you know me, you already know that Andrew Peterson is one of my all time favorite artists. Thank you, Andrew, for continue to create authentic, thoughtful, God-honoring music. I have uploaded one of my favorite tracks from Counting Starts, “In the Night,” for your listening enjoyment.
I love listening to music. When I am looking for new music, the thirty second samples I usually find are insufficient to really get a feel for whole songs and albums. That is why I think Pandora is a great place to listen to music. It will play music that fits the sound of a genre, artist, or even a song. It is a great way to discover new music that fits what I am enjoy most. The limitation of Pandora is that it usually won’t play the specific artist, album, or song you may want to consider purchasing.
So when you want to listen to all the best songs of a particular artist or the complete songs of an entire album, go to lala.com. Love it! The only catch (and there always should be so that artists receive proper compensation for their work) is that you can only listen to complete songs one time, then you only get the thirty second sample. Today, I am enjoying listening to all the best songs of Nickel Creek and adding them to my iTunes wish list to purchase sometime.
I heard the hymn “Rise Up, O Men of God” this morning. I have always been stirred by its lyrics, especially the first stanza. God is working powerfully in my life these days calling me to “Have done with lesser things.”
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!William P. Merrill, 1911
I did not become familiar with these lyrics with the traditional melody. Phil Keaggy recorded his own music with these lyrics in 1981. You can listen to it HERE.

A couple of my recently favorite albums:
Resurrection Letters, Volume II
Andrew Peterson
Here is a link to listen to the first song:

Self -titled
Bebo Norman
Here is a link to Dana’s favorite song off of this album: