JY11
October 1st, 2008, 07:30 AM
Hi Folks,
I write a weekly column titled My Word on my music website. This week it is called God Is Love and is written about a song of mine of the same name. I'm feeling compelled by the Holy Spirit to share my story as to how I became a Christian-Rock singer/songwriter/recording artist. This week's column shares the very beginning of this endeavor and I've copied it here for you to read. There is also a link to hear the song in the below column. I hope you enjoy!--Jim.
--------------------------------
GOD IS LOVE
The first ever Christian song I wrote is titled God Is Love. The song is based on the scripture written in 1 John 4:15-19 which reads: If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
I had been retired from my singing and songwriting endeavors when the Holy Spirit moved me to write God Is Love. It had been approximately six years since I had last performed music in public--that as a secular Rock-N-Roller playing in nightclubs and then coffee houses. After 20 some years of chasing the Rock-N-Roll dream the chips were cashed in and I walked away fatigued and disgusted. It was shortly thereafter that I asked Jesus Christ to be my personal Lord and Savior.
It was in the Autumn of 2005 when the Holy Spirit inspired me in no uncertain terms to make music again--this time in an evangelical capacity. It is strange that I can't recall the precise month and yet I do remember the weather that day--overcast and cold. Stationed here in my home office, working at this very computer, the inspiration hit me and it was profound. The Holy Spirit said "begin now" and the title God Is Love flashed in my mind. I was motivated to grab my Bible and turn to 1 John chapter 4 and find verses 15 through 19. I opened up a notepad file on my computer and began typing out the lyrics as per the Holy Spirit's guidance. My long-neglected acoustic guitar was then plucked from the back corner of this office and the Beatle-esque chord changes and melody began to take shape. The entire process took no more than an hour. The passion for making music that had been dead in me was resurrected. Now, my music had a mission and that was to evangelize to the lost and sing praise to the Lord.
It took two years but the song God Is Love was finally released as part of the CD Agapé in October of 2007. As to what kind of impact the song has had for the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus I don't know--but I pray that it will have pointed at least one lost individual to Him for salvation. To hear the song God Is Love please click this link: http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/music/play.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=10672&song_id=24526
GOD IS LOVE © 2007 Jim Yackel
1)
God gave His one and only son
Jesus atoned for our sin
Now we place our faith in Him
When born through Christ, we are born again
CHORUS:
God Is Love, God Is Love
Whoever lives in love, lives in Him
God Is Love, God Is Love
He gave his son to die for our sin
2)
We love because he first loved us
Perfect love drives out all fear
A fresh start, we're born again
God sent His son, now we live through Him
CHORUS:
God Is Love, God Is Love
Whoever lives in love, lives in Him
God Is Love, God Is Love
He gave his son to die for our sin
END:
Christ is life, eternal life
Christ is life, eternal life
God gave His one and only son
God gave His one and only son
I write a weekly column titled My Word on my music website. This week it is called God Is Love and is written about a song of mine of the same name. I'm feeling compelled by the Holy Spirit to share my story as to how I became a Christian-Rock singer/songwriter/recording artist. This week's column shares the very beginning of this endeavor and I've copied it here for you to read. There is also a link to hear the song in the below column. I hope you enjoy!--Jim.
--------------------------------
GOD IS LOVE
The first ever Christian song I wrote is titled God Is Love. The song is based on the scripture written in 1 John 4:15-19 which reads: If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.
I had been retired from my singing and songwriting endeavors when the Holy Spirit moved me to write God Is Love. It had been approximately six years since I had last performed music in public--that as a secular Rock-N-Roller playing in nightclubs and then coffee houses. After 20 some years of chasing the Rock-N-Roll dream the chips were cashed in and I walked away fatigued and disgusted. It was shortly thereafter that I asked Jesus Christ to be my personal Lord and Savior.
It was in the Autumn of 2005 when the Holy Spirit inspired me in no uncertain terms to make music again--this time in an evangelical capacity. It is strange that I can't recall the precise month and yet I do remember the weather that day--overcast and cold. Stationed here in my home office, working at this very computer, the inspiration hit me and it was profound. The Holy Spirit said "begin now" and the title God Is Love flashed in my mind. I was motivated to grab my Bible and turn to 1 John chapter 4 and find verses 15 through 19. I opened up a notepad file on my computer and began typing out the lyrics as per the Holy Spirit's guidance. My long-neglected acoustic guitar was then plucked from the back corner of this office and the Beatle-esque chord changes and melody began to take shape. The entire process took no more than an hour. The passion for making music that had been dead in me was resurrected. Now, my music had a mission and that was to evangelize to the lost and sing praise to the Lord.
It took two years but the song God Is Love was finally released as part of the CD Agapé in October of 2007. As to what kind of impact the song has had for the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus I don't know--but I pray that it will have pointed at least one lost individual to Him for salvation. To hear the song God Is Love please click this link: http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/music/play.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=10672&song_id=24526
GOD IS LOVE © 2007 Jim Yackel
1)
God gave His one and only son
Jesus atoned for our sin
Now we place our faith in Him
When born through Christ, we are born again
CHORUS:
God Is Love, God Is Love
Whoever lives in love, lives in Him
God Is Love, God Is Love
He gave his son to die for our sin
2)
We love because he first loved us
Perfect love drives out all fear
A fresh start, we're born again
God sent His son, now we live through Him
CHORUS:
God Is Love, God Is Love
Whoever lives in love, lives in Him
God Is Love, God Is Love
He gave his son to die for our sin
END:
Christ is life, eternal life
Christ is life, eternal life
God gave His one and only son
God gave His one and only son