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Bellsburg: The Songs of Rich Mullins – Various Artists
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Rich Mullins went home to be with the Lord following an accident near Lostant, Illinois on I-39 on September 19, 1997, on the way to a benefit concert in Wichita, Kansas, where he lived. Mitch McVicker was also in the vehicle, and though badly injured, he would survive. To commemorate the 25th year of Mullins’ homegoing, a new double-length album of his songs has been released. The album (and future documentary) was recorded in the living room of Mullins’ old house in Bellsburg, Tennessee, where he often crafted songs on the same piano that his parents acquired by trading for a cow from the family farm. Each of the 16 new folk/acoustic interpretations of recordings are by artists who were greatly impacted by the original versions. Each of the artists featured in the project has a personal connection with Mullins or has been deeply influenced by his music. Each side of the project ends with an original, never commercially released demo from Mullins.

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

  • More of this review
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Unconditional by Matt Redman, featuring Matt Maher

The 18-track album was recorded with sparse arrangements, in some cases one voice and one instrument, so that the energy and passion of each artist (and Mullins’ lyrics) are out front. You will also occasionally hear some banter from the artists. The album was produced by Chris Hoisington, Andrew Greer served as co-producer, executive producer, Evan Sieling was co-producer and mixing, Anthony Hoisington was executive producer, Dave Trout was supervising producer, and Connie Hawk and David McCracken were special coordinators.
Among the many artists on the album are Andrew Peterson, Ashley Cleveland, Amy Grant, Kevin Max, Ben Shive, Mitch McVicker, Jimmy Abegg, Sara Groves and Audrey Assad.
I really enjoyed listening to this project. Some of the songs are well known while others are not.
Here is the tracklist for the project:

Hello Old Friends – Andrew Peterson, featuring Andy Gullabhorn and Ben Shive

You Did Not Have a Home – Kevin Max, featuring Mitch McVicker

Both Feet on the Ground – Ashley Cleveland

Heaven is Waiting – Brothers McClurg

Sparrow Watcher – Amy Grant, Cindy Morgan and Andrew Greer, featuring Tommy Sims

If I Stand – Steve Cudworth

I See You – Audrey Assad

Sometimes by Step – Iam Zumback, featuring Ron Block

Hold Me Jesus – Sara Groves, featuring Bonnie Keen and Andrew Greer

Whitewater – Rich Mullins

Here in America – Jason Gray, featuring Kipper Gray and Jimmy Abegg

My Deliverer – Mitch McVicker

Calling Our Your Name – Andrew Osenga and Taylor Leonhardt

Bound to Come Some Trouble – Steven McWhirter and Jason Clayborn

Hard to Get – David Mullins, featuring Jonathan Mullins

Whitewater – Carolyn Arends

We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are – Derek Webb

Holy Pretenders – Rich Mullins

Watch the trailer for the project here.


  • New Creation – Listen to a new version of Mac Powell’s song “New Creation”, featuring Ellie Holcomb.

Unconditional by Matt Redman, featuring Matt Maher

This week’s song of the week is “Unconditional” by Matt Redman, featuring Matt Maher. The song was written by Redman, Maher, Cody Carnes, and Henry Seeley, and is included on Redman’s new album Lamb of God. Listen to the song here.

Love with no restrictions
Grace so freely given
And I am standing on
A promise that remains unbroken
Through all my brokenness
Your love is unconditional
Your hope is unconditional
Your joy is unconditional
Always, always
The Father’s heart wide open
Hope that can’t be stolen – it’s never running out
There’s grace enough for all Your children
It’s never running out
I don’t have to earn it
Could never deserve it
You are my joy
You are my joy
The end of all striving
A new way of living
You are my joy
You are my joy

Author: Bill Pence

I’m Bill Pence – married to my best friend Tammy, a graduate of Covenant Seminary, St. Louis Cardinals fan, formerly a manager at a Fortune 50 organization, and in leadership at my local church. I am a life-long learner and have a passion to help people develop, and to use their strengths to their fullest potential. I am an INTJ on Myers-Briggs, 3 on the Enneagram, my top five Strengthsfinder themes are: Belief, Responsibility, Learner, Harmony, and Achiever, and my two StandOut strength roles are Creator and Equalizer. My favorite book is the Bible, with Romans my favorite book of the Bible, and Colossians 3:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 being my favorite verses. Some of my other favorite books are The Holiness of God and Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul, and Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. I enjoy music in a variety of genres, including modern hymns, Christian hip-hop and classic rock. My book Called to Lead: Living and Leading for Jesus in the Workplace and Tammy’s book Study, Savor and Share Scripture: Becoming What We Behold are available in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon. amazon.com/author/billpence amazon.com/author/tammypence

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