Casting Crowns to Christ the King

Yesterday, we read about the Kingdom of Christ - a Kingdom that advances not with force of arms, but rather as people come to know the TRUTH. We focused on the Gospel lection, and thus gave short shrift to the rest of the readings. I wanted to reiterate a lesson from the epistle reading:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Let's remember that we have been made a kingdom of priests, serving under Christ the King - the faithful witness to the TRUTH and the king of kings. And we're not there because of any goodness in ourselves, but rather because Jesus loved us and freed us from our sins by his shed blood.

Casting Crowns consistently ranks at the top of my list of the best contemporary Christian music artists. They consistently combine musical excellence with theologically correct and emotively effective lyrics. One of their songs came to mind as I was reflecting on the passage: Who Am I?

Below is a video that a church produced showing what can be done with another artist's music. I thought I'd share it - and we're happy to entertain suggestions for ways that we can integrate the arts more effectively into the building up of Christ's Kingdom at St. Stephen and beyond.



Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.


I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.


I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
I am yours..
I am yours..