It’s true, music takes us places that our minds can’t control.  Thank God for that!  Imagine being eternally trapped in a rational world. Now THAT’S crazy.

You know, I think King David would have had one of those “music is my drug” stickers on his harp case, and as you may know, I am a bit of a junkie myself (You can check out my self-recorded EP here).  I’ve found throughout my life that a few doses of the good stuff when I’m down or just wanting to get higher can do wonders.  Ok, I’ll stop with the drug puns, but I’m serious – this stuff can help get you places that you can’t get with your rational mind.  Hence, I want to share with you a list of the top songs from my life that have impacted me and gotten me through thick and thin.  It is my hope that you will find some new pockets of goodness yourself to keep you encouraged and strengthened on the road trip of life.

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1. Pilot Me – Josh Garrels. This song gave me faith to keep going on a road trip that, according to the Canadian Government, I wouldn’t be able to do. And…I did it.  Thanks to my Pilot.
2. Trust – Kristene Mueller. Just listen to it. Get free.
3. So, In This Hour – The Rocket Summer. Don’t listen to him much anymore, but in high school, this song kept my destiny on track.
4. The Last Rose of Summer – Andre Rieu. The only song I’ve ever cried during simply because of its beauty.
5. Vox Populi – 30 Seconds To Mars. Need to take over the world? Let this song help. It was my alarm for three months straight while doing some of the most intense ministry of my life thus far in San Jose.
6. Then – Brad Paisley. Need to have faith you’re going to have an amazing marriage?  Brad Paisley can testify for you.
7. One Day More – Les Miserables. To be fair, the entire musical should be on this list, but that seems kind of unfair, so I stuck with one song.
8. Where I Belong – Cory Asbury. “Delight in Me, delight in Me” – that bridge has inspired me more times than I can count.
9. You’re Beautiful – Phil Wickham. Rarely when I hear a song for the first time do I know that I must have this song immediately, but this is one of those rarelys. Sang this one with my sister at my Grandma’s funeral last year.
10.  Awakening – Switchfoot. This is my all-time most pump-up song ever, which I rarely listen to for fear of wearing out that feeling of passion and zeal for the future embedded in this song. This may partially be due to the fact that I first heard the song during my first time in California on my way to Nicaragua, but regardless, I hope it gives you the same as it’s given me.

I’ve included a playlist above for you to track down all those tracks so you can track with me.  I also should give honorable mentions to Keith Green (especially if you’ve read his life story No Compromise – now there’s a guy who lived what he sang) and Luminous Night of the Soul by Ola Gjeilo (my choir did this piece and man…I was pumped).  So, use away, my friends, and let’s change the world.

“The only music minister to whom the Lord will say, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant,” is the one whose life proves what their lyrics are saying, and to whom music is the least important part of their life.”   — Keith Green