Charisma Magazine

David Crowder Band, the Dove Award-winning six-piece, releases its fifth studio album, Church Music.

"The words ‘church music' stir up images of good old Americana and even stodgy music, but if you have encountered our music, you know that there are a lot of cultural and current influences in it, so to put this music with that term does a number of things," explains front-man David Crowder.

If you've sung "Your Grace Is Enough" in church, you have "the thinking man's worship leader" Matt Maher to thank. As a regular person, Maher loves pondering deep theological questions. As an artist, he's gifted at writing both upbeat church anthems and touching ballads you'd find yourself singing to God during devotional times.

He's an associate pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, so it's only fitting that he would title his latest release Jared Anderson: Live From My Church.

Singer Jared Anderson demonstrates his passion for modern worship, and uses the project to create an atmosphere of awe and surrender for listeners.

You may not know his name, but you have likely heard or sung Brenton Brown's songs. His music is played in concerts and has been covered by such acclaimed recording artists as Chris Tomlin, Rebecca St. James, Lincoln Brewster and Flyleaf's Lacey Mosely.

"It's not just music."

Those few words from Matt Redman say so much about the unassuming British worship leader and songwriter whose music ("Blessed Be Your Name," "Better Is One Day," "The Heart of Worship," "You Never Let Go") is well-known the world over. Despite years of consistently acclaimed output and recording industry honors, Redman definitively shuns the "artist" badge, always viewing the fruits of his creativity as resources for the church rather than potential chartbusters. He composes with eternity in mind, never any showbiz trend.

A mixture of soft rock and worship tracks, Leeland's Love Is on the Move contains a message of God's love while challenging believers to share that love with others through action.

As an artist who isn't interested in simply making music for music's sake, Matt Papa writes songs that center around God's Word and doesn't consider his job done until the lyrics have taken permanent residence in a listener's gray matter. "If you can write a song that's full of God's Word and that song gets in someone's head, that's a powerful thing," Papa says.

Praise and worship is a major component of church services all over the world. Many would be in agreement over its importance, but few would agree on how to approach it. Cheryl Wilson-Bridges helps solve the mystery and offers a biblical perspective in her new book, Levite Praise. Wilson-Bridges, minister of music at the Community Praise Center in Alexandria, Va., explores Scripture to answer three important questions: 1) What does God desire? 2) What does God require? 3) How should we aspire?

By Twila Paris, Koch Records.

Music veteran Twila Paris is back with an album that until recently was only available at LifeWay Christian Stores. Paris, whose career has spanned three decades and produced dozens of hit singles, offers a solid collection of gentle pop that's in keeping with her past work. Though far from edgy or innovative, this clean-sounding album is quite good at points, particularly with "You Lead Me," which has a jazz piano motif that reminds one of Ginny Owens, and "Alleluia," a pretty ballad that channels Amy Grant. It's probably the best song here, though "We Know Love" and "You Are a Great God" are good and occasionally offer just the right touch. The biggest criticism here is that this album can at times seem cloying, or at least too mild-mannered. But much of this quiet music is tailor-made for a Christian women's conference-especially the snappy, "Live to Praise You"-and that's undoubtedly the target audience for this pleasant collection of biblically based songs. Click here to purchase this CD.

When recording artist Norman Hutchins sensed God calling him to pray every day at 5 a.m. in early 2006, he didn't know why. But when complications from a delicate eye surgery left him completely blind that same year, he soon discovered the answer.

"The Lord said, ‘Norman, no matter how gifted and talented and anointed you may be, you are no good to Me if you don't take care of you.'"

Hutchins, 46, is referring to his battle with diabetes, a disease he was diagnosed with years ago. The singer said for six months he depended on his wife, Karen, and others to escort him to his pulpit where he preached every Sunday during the ordeal. He says loosing his sight forced him to repent for not taking care of the body God gave him.