Album Notes

This concept album has been something I've been wanting to do for a long time - a set of music all sung from Jesus' perspective. It started back in 1991 when a campus ministry retreat I was a part of had the theme, "Strong As Death" (Jay Kelly’s idea), based on Song of Songs 8:6. I decided to write a song with that title for the event from the perspective of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. A few years later came "Free from the Grave", then "Prepare a Place for You", "Let Me Understand", "My Father's House" and eventually I found myself with all of these songs that were messages from Jesus to his disciples and to us and thus the idea was born. Five new songs were written specifically for this CD release: "Remain in Me", "Ask Again", "The Truth Will Set You Free", "The Wedding Banquet", and "Why Have You Forsaken Me". Immersing myself in the biblical texts that inspired these songs was so refreshing and moving. I felt I was stepping onto holy ground, and was often overcome by a sense of awe and of being part of something so much bigger than myself and my own little life as I reflected on Jesus’ thoughts and words.