Live from the Woods – NEEDTOBREATHE
****

This high energy live album, featuring seventeen songs, was recorded on the band’s Rivers in the Wasteland tour at the Woods at Fontanel Amphitheatre in Nashville on September 13, 2014. NEEDTOBREATHE has become one of my favorite bands over the past few years, and is a band that I really hope to see in concert soon as this recording demonstrates that they are an excellent live band, bringing new energy to their excellent studio recordings.

The album features the South Carolina band playing extended versions of some of their best songs from four of their five full-length studio albums (no songs from their 2006 debut Daylight are included), with the strong lead vocals of Bear Rinehart. Thirteen of the seventeen songs are from the band’s last two albums, 2014’s chart-topping Rivers in the Wasteland and 2011’s The Reckoning. The only exceptions are “Something Beautiful”, “Girl from Tennessee”, “Washed in the Water” and “The Outsiders”. Nine of the eleven songs from Rivers in the Wasteland are included here. Seven songs were released in advance for those who pre-ordered the set, so I’ve been enjoying those songs for the past few weeks.

Highly recommended for NEEDTOBREATHE fans, and a good introduction for those not familiar with the band.

• For the Church: Singing The Secret Place. Randall Van Meggelen writes about the song “The Secret Place,” from the new album Glory to the Holy One by R.C. Sproul and Jeff Lippencott. The lyrics are provided and you can also listen to the song.
• Small Enough by Nicole Nordeman. Listen to this song featuring Fernando Ortega
• “Sideways” video from KB. Check out the video from this song featuring Lecrae from KB’s new album Tomorrow We Live.
• Masters’ Champion Golfer Bubba Watson Raps on new KB song. Listen to the song here.
• Billy Ray Hearn Dies. He discovered Amy Grant, Keith Green, and Steven Curtis Chapman.
• “Almighty” Video. Watch this video of Chris Tomlin performing an acoustic version of this song from his Love Ran Red album.
• Ringo Starr Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Former bandmate Paul McCartney did the honor of inducting him.
•  A faith without works is a faith that don’t work. (Broken English Edition) Lecrae
• Don’t worry about protecting your reputation. Worry about growing your character. Then your reputation will take care of itself. Andy Mineo

This is a wonderful song that I listened to Easter morning written by Matt Redman. Here are the lyrics to “Once Again”:

Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I’ve wondered at Your gift of life
And I’m in that place once again
I’m in that place once again

And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I’m humbled by Your mercy and I’m broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I lay down my life

Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I’ll bow
But for now I marvel at Your saving grace
And I’m full of praise once again
I’m full of praise once again

Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross, my friend