before there were words...

Hey guys and gals,

i just got the new "live at radio city" blu-ray with dave matthews and tim reynolds. amazing! i have a lot of bootlegs of his shows (he allows tapers at his shows so it's not illegal), but it's really cool to see him perform the songs that i've grown to love in a more laid back setting with tim.

there's a new song that they've been doing called "eh hee" which is based off an experience he had in africa. he and his family traveled into the back woods, with tour guides and translators, where they got to see a tribe called cora san (don't know if that's how you spell it or not).

when night came the people gathered around and the women started singing these songs. dave said they were in scales that he'd never heard before. they were just singing, and then the men started dancing. he was in awe. he said that he began talking to the translator, asking what the songs were about. the translator said, this one is about the rain, and this one's about when the zebra comes around. dave said, what's the words. and the translator said, these songs were written before there were words.

before there were words...

there is an amazing thought. this tribe of people has been singing since the beginning of their existence. they didn't need words, but they had to sing. i think that's one of the reasons we sing in our worship of God. we have to. we can't help ourselves. the cora san people have been singing since the beginning and the people of God have been singing as well. once they had words they began writing them down and we get to have them in the hebrew song book, Psalms. we also have new songs that are being written. why? because God cannot be contained in one song, or one style, or one era. every day His mercies are new and we must sing. the psalms are filled with the phrase, i will sing a new song. we have to because our God is a living God. He moves within the hearts of His people and they must tell others about it.

there is a great hymn of our faith that was inspiration for a new chris tomlin song of the same title, how can i keep from singing. songs of praise have always been a part of human history and we must never stop.

how can i keep from singing (tomlin)

there is an endless song
echoes in my soul
i hear the music ring
and though storms may come
i am holding on
to the rock i cling

how can i keep from singing Your praise?
how can i ever say enough?
how amazing is Your love?
how can i keep from shouting Your name?
i know i am loved by the King
and it makes my heart want to sing

i will lift my eyes
in the darkest night
for i know my Savior lives
snd i will walk with You
knowing You see me through
and sing the songs You give

i can sing in the troubled times
sing when i win
i can sing when i lose my step
and i fall down again
i can sing 'cause You pick me up
sing 'cause You're there
i can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
when i call to You in prayer
i can sing with my last breath
sing for i know
that i'll sing with the angels
and the saints around the throne


may you sing the songs of our faith and find new songs written in your heart by the Creator. have a blessed week.