Bryan & Katie Torwalt - High Above

The High Kings - Red Is The Rose

I will rejoice over you with singing, God's Soundtrack for our lives, Zephaniah 3:17

I was once travelling to Church  with 3 friends, and when my friends picked up in their car , the radio was tuned into Radio 2, and this very old song was playing, and two of my friends seemed to know the words very well,   I wasn’t sure of the words,  and decided to move my head to the music.  The song was “Lollipop”  by the circa 1950’s American Female Cappella group “ The Cordettes” I’m way to young,  to actually remember when this song was released!

Read more about the Cordettes here:

While listening to this song I did wonder what would the sound-track to my life sound like,  the first music I remember listening would be mostly 1970’s  “ Abba”, “ Motown”,  “Showaddywaddy” and  “The Wurzels”   although when I was very young mainly because there must have been of some of his films were on TV,  around the time he died,  I discovered the music of Elvis.  I remember my granddad singing along to the Gracie Fields song “ Sally” when she was on a Royal Variety Performance in the 1970’s. 

However because of my Christian up-bringing and background, I knew of, and learned some great hymns and choruses mainly because of the Redemption Hymnal, I was even in a singing group that a friend of my parents started up! I remember when I was in Sunday School asking can we sing " By the Rivers of Babylon” by Bonny M because it’s mentioned in Psalm 137:

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept

    when we remembered Zion.

2 There on the poplars

    we hung our harps,

3 for there our captors asked us for songs,

    our tormentors demanded songs of joy;

    they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’

4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord

    while in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,

    may my right hand forget its skill.

6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth

    if I do not remember you,

if I do not consider Jerusalem

    my highest joy.

7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did

    on the day Jerusalem fell.

‘Tear it down,’ they cried,

    ‘tear it down to its foundations!’

8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,

    happy is the one who repays you

    according to what you have done to us.

9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants

    and dashes them against the rocks.

Growing up in a Welsh Valley’s community in the 1980’s, I used to love listening to Top of the Pops and enjoying the music of “ Shakin Stevens” and other 1980’s legends,  I had opportunity to study Music in School,  although I’m not  musically talented,   I remember being moved by the film “ Footloose” ,   my musically tastes have come through both  my Christian heritage, the hymns and choruses I have sung and listened to since my youth have been combined with the non-christian songs I’ve listened over the years, it’s since I’ve moved to Merseyside,  I’ve discovered the music of the Beatles,  I remember just after moving to Southport visiting the world famous Cavern Club to listen a retro band playing 1960’s classics!

My understanding  of theology has been influenced in some ways by the Christian Hymns and Choruses I’ve listened to, over time,  although to clarify not all these hymns and choruses we sing or have sung are fully established in the Bible!  I love listening to music, and I also enjoy singing to music,  however I’m more of the making a joyful noise category of singer, my dad is in a Christian Male Voice Choir,  and his musical talent hasn’t been passed down to his son!   One of my closest friends is a very talented organist and it’s an honour to hear him play the organ at Church.

Part of being Welsh,  and male is that you imagine when  you sing that you sound like a cross between Tom Jones and Bryn Terfel!,  oh I wish that was true in my case! I remember enjoying listening to “Mamma Mia “which is based on the music of Abba,  and more recently “ Sunshine on Leith “ which is based on the music of the Proclaimers.

 Looking back on the multitude of music I have listened to and enjoyed over time,  that I has made me laugh, cry,  feel pride in such as the classic’s “ Men  of Harlech” or “ Amazing Grace” and the music made me what to sing along to, (badly) , I wonder if there was a soundtrack to my life what would it sound like,  maybe you can ask yourselves the same question ?,  but I know whatever that soundtrack would sound like,  our Lord and Saviour Jesus has a soundtrack for our lives.

Zephaniah 3:17 

17The Lord your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Be Blessed Today

Blair Humphreys

Southport, Merseyside