We will rise.

This year I think I have listened to Josh Garrels more regularly than I have any other musician in my life. In itunes play counts, a few months of Josh Garrels surpasses even several years of Hem. You should download his most recent album, Love & War & The Sea in Between, for free on his website here.  Christianity Today voted it their 2011 album of the year and described it as "prophetic, incisive, achingly human, and longingly spiritual." So many of his songs communicate so well some of the themes of my thoughts and experiences this year in China. My favorite song of his is almost always whatever I am listening to at the moment. At the moment it's this song:

Rise

I hung my head, for the last time
In surrender and despair
Before I'm dead, I'll take the last climb
Up the mountain, face my fears
The time has come, to make a choice
Use my voice for the love of every man
My minds made up, never again
Never again, will I turn round

Though they may surround me like lions
And crush me on all sides
I may fall, but I will rise
Not by my might, or my power, or by the strength of swords
Only through, your love, my Lord,
All that's lost will be restored

Take courage sons, for we must go under
The heart of darkness, and set them free
But don't lose heart when you see the numbers
There's no measure for the faith we bring
It's given to us, to overcome
If we run where the Spirit calls us on
The greatest things, have yet to come
With the dawn, we will rise

Though they may surround me like lions

And crush me on all sides

I may fall, but I will rise

Not by my might, or my power, or by the strength of swords

Only through, your love, my Lord,

All that's lost will be restored