 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ta
da!!
Our new album is now available!
This project was recorded at Rainbow Studios in Niagara Falls, Canada, in December of 2001. Paul Milner produced and engineered this project, and Dan Cutrona again plays keyboards. Guitars, bass and drums were provided by Kevin Breit, Fergus Marsh and Mark Rogers, another group of great musicians. A very special treat is that Lisa plays flute on "Christ in White Linen."
The artwork for the cover, by the way, is a joint production by myself and my brother, Glenn Norberg, an incredibly imaginative and gifted artist who lives in California. He specializes in airbrush and wonderful lifelike murals. If you ever need some cool artwork done, e-mail him at: norbergfamily@charter.net.
The title of the album, "All Things New: A Grace Odyssey," combines the thoughts of God's proclamation in Revelation 21:5 with the famous Stanley Kubrick movie "2001: a Space Odyssey." While I don't for a minute buy into any of the speculations presented in that movie, I do see it as a parable: It is intervention from beyond our world that transforms us and eventually brings us into an adventure that will culminate in our becoming something we never could have imagined – children of the living God!
Here are the songs, with a little background info about each one. Click on the title to hear a sample.
- All Things New — From Revelation 21:3-6. This is actually a congregational worship song, celebrating both what God has done and what He will yet do.
- Like a Living Stone — Bob Dylan wrote "Like a Rolling Stone," the classic riches-to-rags ballad. Here the theme is the same, only the direction is reversed: We who once were "without hope and without God in the world" are now brought into His family by grace!
- I'm Clean — Another worship song, based on Jesus' words in John 15:3.
- Jubilee — In the Year of Jubilee, debts are canceled, inheritances are restored, and those in bondage are set free! Yee hah!
- I AM Has Called Us — A parody of the Beatles' "I am the Walrus." Like that song, my life really made no sense until Jesus transformed me. The title refers to the name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush: "I AM."
- (Everybody is) Potentially Saved — Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also the sins of the whole world." You never know what God might have in mind for the person you think least likely to become a Christian.
- The Book of Acts — This is the very first song I wrote as a Christian, way back in 1972. I was so excited to discover that all the amazing stuff God did in the Book of Acts was still happening today. I just want to see more of it!
- Christ in White Linen — Another conversion, this one of the lovely Moody Blues song, "Nights in White Satin."
- Simeon's Song — I wrote this song for a Christmas production at my church. Like many Christians, I've received a lot of promises from God that haven't yet been fulfilled. And sometimes I must confess that I begin to doubt – not God's faithfulness, but my own ability to hear Him clearly. But the answer in every case is simply to trust Him, and "rest in the arms of the Faithful One."
- Right in Through the Veil — I was staying for a few days at the home of Mike and Leslie Wood in Streatham, England, and Leslie suggested that I "convert" Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" – so here it is! This is a tribute to the precious outpouring of the Holy Spirit that began at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship in 1994. If you've tasted of that River, you'll understand the song. If you haven't yet, I encourage you to "taste and see" for yourself how good the Father's blessing is!
- Soaking — Eric Clapton's "Cocaine" obviously needed redemption! "Soaking" means simply quieting oneself and resting in the presence of the Lord, allowing His Spirit to saturate, deeply touch and transform one's heart. Often this involves a posture of literally lying down (you know, like "in green pastures"), hence some of the lyrical references. (Just for fun, here's a bit of the instrumental break featuring Kevin Breit on guitars!)
- Catch the Wind — Donovan's tender ballad is an eloquent expression of the desire for true love; but his line "Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind" reveals the hopelessness of seeking that love in any earthly relationship. The slightly modified lyrics came to me as I lay on my back soaking (see above), with my arms spread out. A brother came by, prayed over me, and said, "I bless your wings to catch the wind!"
- I Belong to You — A love song to the Body of Christ, written on the eve of the second anniversary of the church I pastored in Kalamazoo. The more of the family of faith I meet, the more this song means to me. The sample of this one is the whole song, so it may take a little while to download, but I thought you might like to have it to sing to your beloved ones.
So there you have a taste of the music, and a little bit of the story behind the songs. I hope you enjoy both!
If you'd like to get a copy of the CD, click here.
