Other side of the ocean
I feel like I am being awakened from a society induced coma. It’s as if my eyes are being forced open to the state of the world. Global poverty, the slave industry and the AIDS/HIV epidemic are rampant. There is a group of missionary/musicians whose only reason for using their music is to make money for foreign missions…they are called Unnamed Servant. ALL of the money from their cd sales goes to missions. They and their families give their lives to foreign mission fields. I got the opportunity to meet them this month and was blown away by what I saw in them. Here are lyric from two of their songs from their latest album called Anthem.
On the other side of the ocean, people forgotten in commotion forged under blood red skies.
You’ve seen this world in pictures fly covered, starving children left to believe this is life.
The trash they live in eating the scraps their given, still not enough to survive
Disease and malnutrition false hope in the west’ religion, this is enough to make God cry.
From a distance, you can’t feel it, you can choose just to close your eyes
When you’re in it, you can taste it, you’ve got no choice but to give your life.
You’re home bound, can you imagine, sister raped, how can this happen, now there’s talk of genocide.
Society is all in a panic Mother cries from images too graphic and you thank God it’s not your life.
Go ahead change the channel watch a show where weight loss is a battle, so sad they had too many calories. Send your check to support a child, you did your part now you can smile and get back to your American dream.
Oh say can you see a world with out poverty, where the widow can eat, and the orphan can dream
Where the slave is set free, the oppressed find liberty, and avoid military and the farmer rewrites history?
From a distance you can’t feel it, you can choose just to close your eyes.
When your in to, you can taste it, you’ve got no choice but to give your life!
Your attendance twice aweek, your tithes and your offerings its vanity
Its not for me the worship you’re leading the sermons your preaching, it’s just noise to me
You can keep your cds the building your making, the money your saving in my name causes me so much shame, none of it matters, it just doesn’t matter.. People starving, dying, and I’m the bread of life
Recognize, the face of God in slanted eyes, darker skin and foreign smiles. Recognize value of human life even when it’s not white. Recognize.
This cd is extremely controversial for most of us in the west. I have found that the young people who hear it, love it, it stirs them to a passionate desire to be the hands and feet of Christ. I have also found that a lot of the “adults” who hear it, tend to be less excited about it…saying it’s not practical..it’s too extreme…it’s too radical.
I will admit, that it was my first thought too…but my next thought was, but God, if I am wrong, please change my heart. Guess what?? My heart is breaking… I cry everytime I hear the songs…I cry when i see the hell that is reality for millions of people across our beautiful ocean! I believe that Jesus was pretty radical, extreme and impractical at times! I am beginning to see that in the American church we have made Jesus into this blonde haired, blue eyed gentle passivist who never got his hands dirty. How much further can we get from the truth??
What about you? After reading these few lyrics, what thoughts come to mind? Is it convicting?
charitymedders said,
October 8, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Ok…I may be speechless! I have this cd…it’s so true. People are starving, dying, and suffering every day and we…I…do nothing. This has been something on my heart for sometime now. These lyrics say it all…something has to change…all of my worries just got a little smaller after rereading this.
erinstraza said,
October 9, 2008 at 10:16 am
Thanks for posting about this—I think God is planting this on many hearts, sort of the new wave of God’s move for this decade. Are you familiar with the Nomad Project? Their first documentary was on Sarah Groves. I think you would love it! Well worth the purchase. God uses it to soften me and push me. SG’s newest CD is also about social justice, if you want more music on the matter. Here’s to being the hands and feet of Jesus!
heatherblankenship said,
October 9, 2008 at 10:59 am
Chat- Girl, i know…my problems seem pretty shallow at times, in comparison to global issues.
Erin- I have read several articles on Sarah Groves. Love it. I will have to look into her newest cd. I agree, God seems to be moving on the heart of his church to be his hands and feet!!
Jennifer Vatral said,
October 14, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I just stumbled across your blog while searching google for the verse in Isaiah about treasures coming out of darkness and was really encouraged by your words. These songs break my heart too. What if everyone was willing for their heart to be changed?? what a world. What if every Christian realized that this life- everything about it- every relationship- every thought- every action- every step- is for the glory of God and lived every second that way…
Let’s allow the Lord to start a revival in us!!
Always Learning said,
February 20, 2009 at 4:24 pm
What if this has always been God’s move, ever since Jesus? The poor didn’t just appear this decade. The poor, oppressed, and broken, have been there across the ocean for more than just this decade. What if the things that are happening in the world are finally horrific enough for us to see the truth of conditions besides Americans. The state of the world has been growing more violent and the numbers of the hungry and oppressed are rising. Why do you think we are just seeing it now? I pray more and more people’s eyes will be opened to the people who need our help and see that this isn’t just a phase God is going through, liberating the oppressed. And it’s something that will change the world. Think about them, the people across the ocean. They are our brothers and sisters and if you dont think of them and speak of them, who will?
Gregg Garner said,
December 24, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Heather, thank you for your thoughts on this subject. Sometimes when we write songs we wonder if people ever really hear them? It seems that you have heard as well as many others. God really is doing something in the hearts of his people – in particular, people who have the ‘power’ to do something about it. Our problem often is that we are so powerful, we can actually choose to not do anything about it?! All the while, the LORD is gracious and loves us.
Too radical, too extreme, too impracticable are all phrases I’m comfortable being associated with. They didn’t kill Jesus because he left his own people unchallenged and settled in their comfy worlds.
I love you and your husband very much. You continue to inspire me, even with thoughts you had a year ago.
God bless!
- Gregg
heatherblankenship said,
December 24, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Hey there Gregg! Thanks for the comment! Wow, not often do I hear back from the author of a song I quote!
You are so right about the reason Jesus was killed. I just spent over an hour talking with a friend about that very topic! I desperately desire to have a heart like His! Thanks for stopping by!