Beams of Heaven: Indelible Grace IV

Christ Community College Ministry (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 15, 2005)
• Original Release Date: November 15, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Indelible Grace Music
• ASIN: B000CPGYNA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,274 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, May 2, 2006

By 

mtlimber (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beams of Heaven: Indelible Grace IV (Audio CD)

I have greatly enjoyed the first two albums in Indelible Graces' project to set old hymns to new music, but I must admit that I had a little trouble getting into the third. The fourth installment, however, is a delight of music and words, and it drew me in immediately.

Here you will find songs of joy and of comfort with words that are packed with meaning in every phrase and with tunes that a pleasure to sing and capture the intent of the words for our generation's musical taste. It is, in my opinion, a step above most contemporary Christian music.

A variety of artists perform these songs, some familiar to IG fans, some new. If I had to pick one song as my favorite, it would probably be Jeremy Casella's rendition of "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah", which is both memorable and profound, but playing favorites does a diservice to the album as I really can't complain about any of the songs here. I find that I like them all and prefer to listen to the CD all the way through.

Surely, the words from one song on this excellent album are true:

A thousand men could not compose
A worthy song to bring
Yet Your love is a melody
Our hearts can't help but sing!

I recommend that you buy this CD and lift your voices high.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I listen to this CD almost daily., June 26, 2006

By 

H. Simoneau - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beams of Heaven: Indelible Grace IV (Audio CD)

The project is a collection of hymns, some long out of use, with new melodies and/or arrangements. I start to wonder why on earth the churches stopped singing some of these songs, they're so gospel-centered, ringing with grace and truth. There are a couple new renditions of favorites, too. I will say that I'm a person who loves words and language, even old-fashioned English, so, if you prefer hymns that are lyrically updated and leave out the "thees" and "thous," this CD may not be for you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Songs for Our Pilgrimage, June 27, 2011

By 

Matthew R. Kuiper (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beams of Heaven: Indelible Grace IV (Audio CD)

Modern hymnists are often mocked by the mainstream market as having lyrics that were shallow to the point of blurring the line between Christ as Lord and Christ as boyfriend. In all of modern hymnody, Indelible Grace has set the bar on providing the church lyrically deep music set to modern arrangements.

The Indelible Grace project was begun to draw upon the robust lyrics of old and pair them with tunes that were accessible. The reviewer believes the attempt was a success and the crescendo for this project can be found in the fourth cd entitled Beams of Heaven. The theme of Beams of Heaven are songs of reflection while on our blessed pilgrimage.
Andrew Osenga, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, and Matthew Smith headline the album but the true highlights of the album are the hymns.

The first gem on the album is sung by Emly Deloach with the title I Asked the Lord. This story line of I Asked the Lord is that Newton asks the Lord for grace and mercy and God provides him with trials to bring about the answer to Newton's prayer. Not exactly a popular modern song concept, but the lyrics are as rich as they are Biblically true.

An equally precious song is by the artist Derek Webb called His Love Can Never Fail. The style of this hymn is written in the style of a power ballad. Mr. Webb's voice cries out with optimism and hope as he sings the refrain "And though I tremble when I think how weak I am and frail, my heart is satisfied to know his love can never fail."

Andrew Osenga sings a song entitled Father Long Before Creation that has become a favorite in mine. The lyrics to this song came from an old Chinese Hymn. The reviewer's favorite lyrics are proclaimed in the third verse: "God's compassion is my story, Is my boasting all the day; Mercy free and never failing moves my will, directs my way"

Beams of Heaven, lyrics written by Charles Tindley, provide the conclusion of the album. There could not be a better song to finish up the album. Dan Haseltine performs this arrangement with a style that can only be described as a heart cry. The concluding verse of this song is especially poignant if you have listened to the album straight through: "There is a world where pleasure reigns, no mourning soul shall roam its plains, and to that land of peace and glory I shall want to go someday."

Although Beams of Heaven was released in 2008, it still is on the top of my playlists.