Chris Tomlin "The Noise We Make"

Title: The Noise We Make
Category: Praise and Worship
Artist/Group: Chris Tomlin
Rating: 5 / 5
I've been following the music from the Passion movement since 1998 when I accidentally purchased "Passion: live worship from the 268 Generation". At that time, I had no idea what they were about, only that the music on the CD was fresh and dynamic.

When I realized that the CD was a compilation of songs from various Passion student conferences, I eagerly awaited the CD from the next conference, and I was not disappointed. Each year, the music got better and better....

Since that time, Passion has developed a wide following. Or so I thought. I still meet people who've never heard of Passion or their music. So in case the reader is not familiar with this series, here is a brief synopsis:

Passion began with a vision: college students from across the nation united in worship and prayer for spiritual awakening on the campuses of America. The motive was the belief that God is worthy of all. The music was the means.

The music of Passion Conferences drew the attention and the excitement of college students and others who hungered for a fresh approach to worship. In 1977, Passion drew over 2,000 students in Austin, Texas. In 1998, that number grew to over 5,000. Passion 1999 grew to 11,500. Throughout 1999 and the early part of 2000, Passion Conferences (with a traveling Passion praise band) were held in various campuses across the nation to share the Passion Vision. Then, on May 20, 2000, "tens of thousands" of college students converged on Shelby Farms, just outside of Memphis, TN, for a sacred assembly simply known as OneDay. And the rest, as they say, is history - or should I say DVD.

Well, Passion, as a series of student conferences, is no more - say it ain't so Louie! - but one of the many fruits of the Passion movement is a music label headed by Louie Giglio, Passion's founder, called Sixstepsrecords. The label describes itself as "a small family of artist/worshippers sold on spreading God's fame to the ends of the earth. Like Passion, sixsteps is about more then music...it's about a way of life." Currently, there are only three artists on the label: Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, and David Crowder.

Closely identified with the Passion movement, Chris Tomlin is the familiar worship leader from OneDay. Several of Chris’ songs have already been featured on Passion CD’s, WoW 2001, the upcoming WoW Worship project and on the OneDay DVD/video documentary and soundtrack. Worship leader, musician, and song writer, God has used Chris to bring passionate worship to college campuses and in his local church for about five years.

Curiously enough, Chris has developed his own personal apologetic to describe exactly how he sees his role in the church. "I’d rather change the term ‘worship leader’ into ‘lead worshipper’" he says. "I think that’s a better description of my calling. After all, I’m a worshipper too. I was created to worship God just the same as everyone else. I’m no better at it. My need to worship is the same as yours and everyone else’s....we’re worshippers first, and the fact that we use artistry as a means of worship is incidental."

One does not need to know the in's and out's of worship leading to appreciate the songs on this CD. His songs have been called "passionate" and "transcendent", as well as "worshipful abandonment". I have to agree. All the songs here have touched me and allowed me to worship God in profound and intimate ways. I give this CD 5/5. Here are some of my favorites.

"Kindness" is based on Romans 2:4 which says: "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" This verse and song is one of those pargdigm busters; one must meditate on the words to really sink in: it makes sense for guilt to lead us to repentence - after all, guilt makes us do things we normally would not do. But kindness? Yes. It's only through the kindness of our graceous God, over flowing, and overwhelming, that we can "turn" from our sins and repent.

"Wonderful Cross" is a remake of the well know hymn "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" written by Isaac Watts in the 1700's. The music's been rearraged, and a vertical chorus has been added. In my humble opinion, it's one of the best praise songs of 2000. It's so familiar, yet it's so fresh! The first time I heard this song, was on a Saturday afternoon, a few weeks before Christmas. I was alone in Dave S.'s place watching the Passion OneDay DVD on his BIG tv. I remember that day very well. As Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman are singing this song, a large cross slowly makes its way to the front. Once the cross is placed near the stage, people begin to walk, to run, to kneel, to cry, to pray, to reach for...I could not believe my own reaction, as I too knelt before the television as tears of sorrow and joy flowed down. I only have one thing to say: for those who are being saved, the cross is indeed "wonderful"!!

"The Happy Song" is a Delirious cover that has energy, pep, and zest. And it should. As the redeemed people of God, we must celebrate the goodness of God's love. We can't help it!

"Need You Now" really speaks to me. I guess I was going thru something when I first heard this song. Here is the lyrics of the refrain:

I am waiting for your love
I am reaching for your touch
Lost without you God reach down
I need you now, I need you now.

This song reminds us that we were made to be in the presence of God. We were made to bask in the presence of the radiance and the beauty of the Creator. We were not meant to worship created things. Only God can satisfy. He is the "lover of our souls" that we've been searching for all our lives....

"This Is Our God" is a song of restoration. "This is the one we've been searching for..." is the refrain that I can sing for hours. He restores us through the realization that it's all about Him.

This CD is further "enhanced" by a music video of "We Fall Down" as it was captured during Passion OneDay 2000. One view, and you'll want to go out and buy the DVD.

As an added bonus, at least when I bought this CD, Sixstepsrecords was offering a free sampler with purchase of any of their CDs. The sampler features six songs. Two each from Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall and David Crowder. Three of the songs I've heard before and can be found in The Road To One Day or Passion OneDay Live CDs. Three others, as far as I know, are new: "Immersed" by Charlie Hall, "All I Can Say" and "Lift My Eyes" by David Crowder. Plan on hearing from these three artists/worshippers for many years to come.

Check out PassionNow.org or Christ Tomlin's website ChrisTomlin.com

Mark
Kim
05/15/01

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