Worshiptogether: "Volume 1: King of Love"

Title: Worshiptogetherlive Volume 1: King of Love.
Category: Live Worship.
Artist/Group: Various Artist
Rating: 5/5
You must listen to the first song on this CD with the volume turned up LOUD.

It begins with a low rumble of keyboards - a barely audible sound evoking a sense of expectation. Then, before the rumble fully registers and takes form, a horn pierces the distance, signaling the imminent arrival of something great and wonderful... In my mind's eye, I can see the coming Kingdom - not just any kingdom, but THE Kingdom of the Lamb, in and through which all our hopes and dreams will be satisfied. The sound of drums kicks in and quickly intensifies into a series of rapid-fire beats that convey both excitement and joy of the coming Kingdom and the party that is to come. Then, finally, a guitar reverberates with authority, signaling the triumphant victory and proclaiming the assurance of who we are and where we are headed... and the citizens of the Kingdom cheer in celebration...

Thus starts Worship Together's first track, "There's a Place (Because of You)". Okay, you ask, all that for a single song? Yes. Simply put, this CD is loaded with theology - not only in its lyrics but also in the music itself. The live versions of "There's a Place (because of You)" and "Sometimes When I Feel Your Love" are the best I've heard to date. Recorded live from Stoneleigh, England, this CD once again exemplifies the growing British dominance (RE: Deliriou5?, Matt Redman, et. al.) on Christian praise and worship music - surpassing the American praise & worship music establishment (at one time led by Vineyard) and the Australian praise & worship music establishment (led by Hillsong). I guess you can tell I really love this CD. It is well worth your money.

For those of you at Emmanuel, you'll notice, upon closer inspection, that we've sung most of the songs on this CD since 1998 - most notably, The King of Love and "Sometimes when I feel Your love". In fact, the theme of the Penn Group's 1999 Praise Night was "The King of Love". For Emmanuel's young adults, "Who is There Like You" and "Jesus, Lover of my Soul (Its All About You)" should sound familiar since they were both featured during the 1999 Charis/Phileo Fall Retreat. Most recently, "There's a Place (Because of You)" debuted at the 2000 Easter Sunday Celebration.

Reviewed by Mark Kim

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