Christian Music & Books

Recommend a great band/book to me

I've been into Christian music since 2 days before I chose to follow Jesus (check out my testimony for more details on that...). Since then I've started building up a collection of CDs and tapes, as follows:

Band / Artist	CD	What it's like	Sample lyrics!
Deliriou5!	Cutting Edge 1+2	Delirious' first & second album releases, these contain some classic worship songs like Lord You Have My Heart, as well as the official liveliest Christian song ever, The Happy Song.	Well I could sing unending songs of how you saved my soul And I could dance a thousand miles because of your great love
	Cutting Edge Red Tape + Fore	More great worship tracks. The joy of I've Found Jesus and the power in Obsession or Did You Feel The Mountains has to be heard to be believed...	Now I have chosen to believe Believing that you've chosen me I was lost but now I've found Jesus!
	Live + In The Can	My favourite of all their albums, the sheer praise and intimacy with God comes over immensely powerfully. If you only get one Deliriou5? recording, make it this one.	Did you feel the people tremble Did you hear the singers roar When the lost began to sing of Jesus Christ the saving one...
	King of Fools	Their most recent album - the most mainstream yet. Home to the singles (White Ribbon Day, Deeper, Promise) as well as some new anthems like Revival Town or History Maker.	I'm gonna be a History Maker in this land I'm gonna be a speaker of truth to all mankind I'm gonna stand; 'm gonna run into your arms

	White Ribbon Day	The very first single d: released, it still managed to get to number 41 with no radio play at all! It's a classic track which really takes the question of how God allows suffering and turns it around.	And here we stand Saved by your blood We'll stand with courage We'll live and die... For White Ribbon Day
	Deeper	The second single, which reached #20 in the UK charts. The band themselves call it the "most radio-friendly track", and it's probably the most well-known d: song from recent times. Classic powerpop!	Maybe I could run, maybe I could follow... It's time to walk the path, where many seem to fall Hold me in your arms, just like any father would How long, do we have to wait? How long... We're going all the way!
	Promise CD1	Delirous' third single, it reached the UK Top 20! It's a really heavy guitar-led track. The CDs feature an acoustic version and an interview with the band.	Do I wipe the tear, or do I spit in your face? Do I point the finger, or give the hand of grace? Oh why... why does it come to this?
	Promise CD2
	deEPer	The Deeper EP: reached 36 in the charts... Check out the B-side "Touch"!	And when you touch my heart - I am born again,the curtain's been torn again...

DC Talk (Some DCT lyrics! :-) )	Jesus Freak	An amazing album. Transcending DC Talk's rap background, the mixture of styles on this album is startling; but I find I'm too busy being comforted or spoken to directly by God through the words and music to try to categorise it!	Would you ride the storm, endure the pain? You comfort me in my hurricane - and I will never be alone again
	Welcome To The Freakshow	The live album. Contains a mixture of songs from Jesus Freak and their previous album, and although I think they're better studio-recorded than live (in direct contrast with Deliriou5?) I would still recommend the album to anyone.	He gave his life so that we may live How much more love could the Son of God give? His is the example that we oughtta be matchin' Cause "Love" is a word that requires an action
	Free At Last	Their last studio CD before Jesus Freak, this album is great. Lyrics on Jesus, freedom, grace, sex and marriage, Toby Mac's excellent raps and the inimitable DC Talk style of humour combine to make really quite a wonderful listen.	Down / Wit' the one / That is known / As the Son / Of the G / To the O / To the D / Never done / Never trite / When I write / Cos the Lord / Is my light / And his word / Is my bond / So ya know / He's all right
Rebecca St James	GOD	Another great album. The comparisons with Alanis Morissette are inevitable, but RSJ's lyrics tend to be much more uplifting... especially "Go And Sin No More", a joyful celebration of the way Jesus just won't condemn us.	"Go and sin no more" - He said "I will not condemn you, I'll forgive and I'll forget it all... Go and sin no more: My child let me remind you it is I who'll lead and guide you as you go"
Steven Curtis Chapman	Greatest Hits	I'd never heard of him before I was sold this CD as one of four for £15, along with DCTalk-Free@Last and RstJ-God. But I soon realised why he's been selling well enough for the past decade to have a huge Greatest Hits album... Highlights include "The Great Adventure" - of God's amazing grace!	Sometimes I look above me, when stars are shining And I feel so small How could the God of heaven and all creation know I'm here at all? But then in the silence He whispers, "My child, I created you too! And you're my most precious creation, I even gave my Son for you..."
Doug Horley	We Wanna See Jesus Lifted High	This CD is a real mixture: one minute a hilarious bouncy kids' praise song, the next an intense anthem to God's love. Best track is probably the title song, which has become a contemporary classic recently. But the whole album's great, for laughter, encouragement and worship.	I feel as worthless as a pea! But the truth is a different story 'Cause God in all his glory Never looks at me that way! You're a child of God, and you'll never be worthless A child of God, even when you fail...
XAlt	History	No-one else is going to have heard of them, but this CD has been almost exclusively occupying my stereo for the past week or so. Published by the Bournemouth-based Spirit Music, XAlt are fast, pumping, Christian heavy metal. My favourite track is Babel Again, about the world today: even if world leaders agree on peace, without God at the centre they're just as lost as when they were at each other's throats.	In the beginning God spoke to man, a burning bush in a holy land - Promises of victory, a time when we would be set free... Jehovah's promises came to pass, With Jesus Christ - the first and last His children wait on his return - Hear his voice and learn!
Pray For Rain	Pray For Rain	This CD was free anyway, so I can't complain. It's nothing special, but the hearts of this vaguely Beatles-y pop group are definitely in the right place. Others might like it.

I've got loads of good Christian books, that have helped me immeasurably in my development during the few months I've been following Jesus. In a very vague order of favouriteness:

Book Author Subject First Read What it's like

Being a Contagious Christian Bill Hybels Evangelism October '97 The only book other than the Bible that's changed my life. An amazing book giving you an incredible encouragement to go out and share with all your friends / workmates / people you meet on the bus just how fantastic knowing Jesus really is.

Don't Just Stand There, Pray Something Ronald Dunn Prayer ?August '97 Another really inspiring book, this time convincing you of the incomprehensible power of prayer and how much God wants to involve us in His work in the world.

In the Grip of Grace Max Lucado Grace February '98 The CICCU's Book of the Term for Lent '98, the message of this book is constantly positive: Nothing you can do is too bad for God to forgive. We don't deserve our salvation, but Jesus' death means that we can have it, free, anyway.

The Screwtape Letters C. S. Lewis Satan's Methods ?May '97 A wonderful book. It's in the form of letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil, and so gives a huge amount of advice, although phrased in reverse: "Do not let your patient focus on his God" and so on. Hugely amusing and very encouraging too.

The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Christian Speaker Aged 45 ³/₄ Adrian Plass Spoof Diary February '98 I received an email saying "How dare you not have any Adrian Plass in your collection!", so I had to get one of his. This is a hilarious little diary, with loads of light-hearted jokes, some rather acute Church satire, and lots of morals to be inferred and encouragement to receive.

Too Busy Not to Pray Bill Hybels Prayer ?November '97 Another great book on prayer. Different methods are suggested to Ronald Dunn's, but the message and encouragement are the same: God tells us to ask him for everything we need, and he loves to provide it.

Questions of Life Nicky Gumbel Basic Christianity April '97 The book of the Alpha Course, which I read in conjunction to my course in April-May. A step-by-step, friendly introduction to Jesus' life and death, the Holy Spirit, the Church and more.

Signs of the Spirit Chuck Smith Holy Spirit November '97 I bought this for £1.35 second-hand and I don't think you'll be able to find it anywhere, but it's really been helpful in some of my confusion about how the Holy Spirit works in the world today. The author's from a bad Pentecostal background, so warns against "charismania"; but it's just as vital to allow the Spirit to work in our lives.

Quarks, Chaos & Christianity John Polkinghorne Science April '97 One of the very first books I bought as a new Christian, this is a really good explanation of how science and Christianity are not remotely incompatible but rather go hand-in-hand together to explain the world we see.

Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult Nick Pollard Evangelism February '98 Considerably more cautious than Becoming a Contagious Christian, the author presents a way to get inside the mindset of 90s-style, pick-n-mix belief systems, and a way to lead the holders of them to see the inconsistencies and to encourage them to look at Christianity.

The Bible With Pleasure ? The Bible November '97 This is actually really good. After a few introductory chapters, it gives a clear and useful run through the various styles of book in the Bible (histories, prophecy, Psalms, wisdom, gospels, letters, apocalyptic) and tips for getting the most out of reading each one.

The Cross of Christ John Stott The Cross Christmas '97 A very comprehensive book, on the absolute centrality of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to the Christian faith. The author runs through various sermons of the New Testament, showing how central Jesus' crucifixion was to the apostles, and then demonstrates how it should be to us as well. It's sometimes a bit hard going, but very scripturally based.

Dayzd
(Bible study guide) Scripture Union Bible study November '97 A really funky Bible study guide. Despite its "trendy" font and layout, I prefer the style of Dayzd to the more standard guides like Our Daily Bread. It has a paragraph or two each day on what the context / background / feeling of the day's passage would be, and then some questions, challenges or song lyrics to help apply it and prayer suggestions.

Bibles
(these should really be at the top :) )

Life Application Bible God :-) Life Christmas '97 A brilliant version and my current Bible, this uses the true-to-the-original NIV text, but with *huge* amounts of notes and challenges below each page, literally one for nearly every passage in the Bible. Each note shows just how to apply it to life in the 90s, and challenges you as to whether you've been heeding the lesson from the passage.

Youth Bible God :-) Life April '97 My first Bible and one I still have an enormous amount of respect for. It uses the New Century Version translation (NCV), which is designed for young people and replaces any complicated words, phrases or idioms with exactly what they mean. This has the effect of making each verse really drive home to you.

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Book	Author	Subject	First Read	What it's like
Being a Contagious Christian	Bill Hybels	Evangelism	October '97	The only book other than the Bible that's changed my life. An amazing book giving you an incredible encouragement to go out and share with all your friends / workmates / people you meet on the bus just how fantastic knowing Jesus really is.
Don't Just Stand There, Pray Something	Ronald Dunn	Prayer	?August '97	Another really inspiring book, this time convincing you of the incomprehensible power of prayer and how much God wants to involve us in His work in the world.
In the Grip of Grace	Max Lucado	Grace	February '98	The CICCU's Book of the Term for Lent '98, the message of this book is constantly positive: Nothing you can do is too bad for God to forgive. We don't deserve our salvation, but Jesus' death means that we can have it, free, anyway.
The Screwtape Letters	C. S. Lewis	Satan's Methods	?May '97	A wonderful book. It's in the form of letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil, and so gives a huge amount of advice, although phrased in reverse: "Do not let your patient focus on his God" and so on. Hugely amusing and very encouraging too.
The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Christian Speaker Aged 45 ³/₄	Adrian Plass	Spoof Diary	February '98	I received an email saying "How dare you not have any Adrian Plass in your collection!", so I had to get one of his. This is a hilarious little diary, with loads of light-hearted jokes, some rather acute Church satire, and lots of morals to be inferred and encouragement to receive.
Too Busy Not to Pray	Bill Hybels	Prayer	?November '97	Another great book on prayer. Different methods are suggested to Ronald Dunn's, but the message and encouragement are the same: God tells us to ask him for everything we need, and he loves to provide it.
Questions of Life	Nicky Gumbel	Basic Christianity	April '97	The book of the Alpha Course, which I read in conjunction to my course in April-May. A step-by-step, friendly introduction to Jesus' life and death, the Holy Spirit, the Church and more.
Signs of the Spirit	Chuck Smith	Holy Spirit	November '97	I bought this for £1.35 second-hand and I don't think you'll be able to find it anywhere, but it's really been helpful in some of my confusion about how the Holy Spirit works in the world today. The author's from a bad Pentecostal background, so warns against "charismania"; but it's just as vital to allow the Spirit to work in our lives.
Quarks, Chaos & Christianity	John Polkinghorne	Science	April '97	One of the very first books I bought as a new Christian, this is a really good explanation of how science and Christianity are not remotely incompatible but rather go hand-in-hand together to explain the world we see.
Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult	Nick Pollard	Evangelism	February '98	Considerably more cautious than Becoming a Contagious Christian, the author presents a way to get inside the mindset of 90s-style, pick-n-mix belief systems, and a way to lead the holders of them to see the inconsistencies and to encourage them to look at Christianity.
The Bible With Pleasure	?	The Bible	November '97	This is actually really good. After a few introductory chapters, it gives a clear and useful run through the various styles of book in the Bible (histories, prophecy, Psalms, wisdom, gospels, letters, apocalyptic) and tips for getting the most out of reading each one.
The Cross of Christ	John Stott	The Cross	Christmas '97	A very comprehensive book, on the absolute centrality of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to the Christian faith. The author runs through various sermons of the New Testament, showing how central Jesus' crucifixion was to the apostles, and then demonstrates how it should be to us as well. It's sometimes a bit hard going, but very scripturally based.
Dayzd (Bible study guide)	Scripture Union	Bible study	November '97	A really funky Bible study guide. Despite its "trendy" font and layout, I prefer the style of Dayzd to the more standard guides like Our Daily Bread. It has a paragraph or two each day on what the context / background / feeling of the day's passage would be, and then some questions, challenges or song lyrics to help apply it and prayer suggestions.
Bibles (these should really be at the top :) )
Life Application Bible	God :-)	Life	Christmas '97	A brilliant version and my current Bible, this uses the true-to-the-original NIV text, but with huge amounts of notes and challenges below each page, literally one for nearly every passage in the Bible. Each note shows just how to apply it to life in the 90s, and challenges you as to whether you've been heeding the lesson from the passage.
Youth Bible	God :-)	Life	April '97	My first Bible and one I still have an enormous amount of respect for. It uses the New Century Version translation (NCV), which is designed for young people and replaces any complicated words, phrases or idioms with exactly what they mean. This has the effect of making each verse really drive home to you.