Echoes of the Sacred

Welcome to the official lyric video of "Faith Across the Rockies," a country metal & folk rock tribute to the faith, courage, and missionary efforts of Marcus Whitman and Samuel Parker. Song lyrics: Across the rugged Rockies, through valleys deep and wide, With faith as their compass, they ventured side by side. Facing trials and dangers, with courage in their hearts, They spread the word of God, in lands so far apart. Oh, Whitman's steadfast spirit, and Parker’s guiding light, Through storm and darkest night, they fought the righteous fight. In fields where shadows linger, their legacy remains, A testament to faith, through struggles and through pains. With open hearts they reached out, to tribes of distant lands, Bridging gaps with kindness, offering helping hands. But cultures clashed and tensions rose, in unfamiliar ways, Their mission met with trials, in those pioneering days. The darkest day in Waiilatpu, a tragic fate they met, For measles brought by settlers led to distrust and regret. The Whitmans fell as martyrs, in eighteen forty-seven, Those remembering their sacrifice await to see them in heaven. Oh, Whitman's steadfast spirit, and Parker’s guiding light, Through storm and darkest night, they fought the righteous fight. In fields where shadows linger, their legacy remains, A testament to faith, through struggles and through pains. Their work paved the way for others, who followed in their stride, With faith and determination, through the wilderness they’d ride. Their legacy of courage, in the hearts of many dwells, A beacon for the faithful, in the West their story tells. Faith across the Rockies, their story still is told, Of Samuel Parker's journey, and Marcus Whitman's bold. Whitman gave his life, in a land so wild and vast, Parker's words live on, a testament to the past. Their impact everlasting, in the land they helped to tame, Their legacy guides us onward, Honoring Christ's great name. Background information: Samuel Parker was a Presbyterian minister and one of the early missionaries in the American West. In 1835, Parker embarked on an exploratory journey to the Oregon Country with Marcus Whitman. Their goal was to scout locations for potential missions among Native American tribes. Parker continued west to the Columbia River while Whitman returned east to recruit more missionaries. Parker’s detailed observations were instrumental in promoting further missionary efforts. He published his experiences in "Journal of an Exploring Tour Beyond the Rocky Mountains." After returning to New York, Parker continued his ministry and writings until his death in 1866. Marcus Whitman, a physician, joined Parker on the journey to the West. Whitman returned east to gather more missionaries, including his wife Narcissa, and they established the Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu near present-day Walla Walla, Washington, in 1836. The mission aimed to convert and educate the Cayuse tribe. Despite initial efforts, cultural misunderstandings and a measles epidemic strained relations. On November 29, 1847, the Whitmans and others were killed in the Whitman Massacre, a tragic event that underscored the difficulties of missionary work in the frontier. Their work had a lasting impact on the American West, laying the groundwork for future missionary activities and contributing to the opening of the Oregon Trail to settlers. The Whitman Mission is now a National Historic Site, commemorating their contributions and sacrifices.

Welcome to the official lyric video for a new Christian metal song, "Encountering the Holiness of God." This track dives deep into the themes of inner struggle, the realization that trying to hide oneself from God, a perfectly holy, omnipresent, and all-knowing God, is a futile enterprise, and the ultimate redemption found in God's unwavering love through Jesus. The song may be classified as metal or hard rock. It also has some symphonic elements. Lyrics: All pretensions gone away, Not much left that could stay. Only I and the masks of my many faces, In life's theatre removed from its stages. Silent words the mind of flesh utters, These I could easily hide from others. They too play games of pretend on a whim, When conscience sleeps and lights fade dim. Face to face, Word against the Word, Revealing light will face me. There is no place, Away from the Lord, Where anyone could take me. Encountering the only one truly wise, Who really sees me for what I am. Not to enable any sinful vice, Nor affirm corruption in man. I startle when seeing a hand raised as fist, Yet deeper sense of love does persist. The hand now opens with light shining through, Reached out in mercy as the fear withdrew. On his palm I see a piece of parchment, A torn fragment of my soul handed back. I do know what the written words meant, As they remain still in carbon black. The fragment I can smooth out and spread, But old writing cannot show through. Covered by new words written in bloodred: "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

This song examines the seasonal changes in the Arctic North's nature and attempts to find echoes of spiritual metaphors in them. At one level, the song is about natural phenomena, but at another level, it may touch on something more profound. SONG LYRICS: Condemnation. Dark ceremonies decorated with gloomy colors, Frosting the tears that hide last memory of life. Vanishing sounds of fading tomorrows, Swallowed by the beast bringing the long dayless night. No escape from this judgment now for a time, Or endlessly if no end was ever decreed. Just deserts creating their crime for ones bound in need. Consequence. Trapped in dark dungeons of our own making, Barely keeping heads above the freezing blue below. Sparing a hesitant thought amidst the aching, The shivering soul shroudedly longs for blue above's glow. Nature is humbled to its present verdict, Aligning hope to what may lie beyond, Longing for the one perfect to appear and cut the bond. Hope. Season of darkness is overcome by first glimmers of light, Proclaiming the promise of a light greater still. First whispers of those in darkness regaining sight, Speaking of the coming warmth to bring end to deadly chill. Heaven's hope is found in its luminous proclamations, Nature confesses its need for mercy's warmth. Singing from above to all nations found by grace and transformed. Awakening. Having believed itself deafened by the loudest absence, Conscience awakens to whisperings of new birth. Gentle touch brings warmth to icy blue within in fragments. Tidings of hope born for a world in wait of renewal's mirth. Creeks from soul's glacier are now gently melting. Stream's hidden longing now finds it voicing, Its melting heart heedfully helping to join in the rejoicing. Rejoicing. New creation. Living waters. Old coming alive as new. Coming alive for the new springtime, Fruit soon starting to ripen for the coming harvest. Victory of light began at the first turn of clime, Barely past the peak of the weight of darkness.

This song examines the duality of the human predicament and the solution to it. Humans are both wonderful and wretched: very good in the original order of creation but have fallen into a state of rebellion and hostility toward God. The first Adam brought death and spiritual alienation, but there is another one that brings reconciliation and eternal life. See Romans 5:12-21. SONG LYRICS Eternity turned to dust in a flare, Seared conscience looks for lost remorse. A broken man and his nightmare, Chased and badly beaten by a dead horse. Looking for the light within, Realizing that it's darkness. Born from and giving birth to sin, The inner in search of the outer one. There are moments when you can feel, Adam sinking his teeth in the fruit anew. He is not you, And yet he is. There must be someone to mend and heal, The wound even larger than we knew. He is not you, But he can be. All in Adam will surely die, For the cause of the slithering lie. But another one is new and better, Through his upward fall a freesetter.

Welcome to the lyric video for "The Coin and the Image," a song based on the encounter between Jesus and the religious leaders as recorded in the Gospels of Luke 20:20-26, Matthew 22:15-22, and Mark 12:13-17. This song delves into the profound message of spiritual and earthly allegiances, reflecting on the significance of being created in the image of God. LYRICS: They came with questions, trying to confound, Their words like arrows, seeking to astound. But a teacher stood there, calm and wise, Ready to raise truth over schemes and lies. With a glint in their eyes, they sought to deceive, But the teacher saw through, their plans to aggrieve. He turned the tables, with a simple plea, Revealing truths, for all to see. Whose image do you bear? Whose name do you hold? To whom do you surrender, your heart, your soul? In the mirror of life, may we clearly see, Our allegiance to the One who sets free. A coin was offered, with Caesar's face, A symbol of power, in this earthly space. But Jesus spoke of a higher reign, Where God's image shines, without restrain. In the gleam of the coin, a deeper truth, Reflecting the call, from the days of our youth. To render to God, what truly belongs, Image-bearers in harmony and joyful songs. Whose likeness do you reflect? Whose story do you tell? In thought, word and action, where does your loyalty dwell? May the truth be our guide, as we journey each day, The image of God, let our lives display. Whose stamp is upon you? Whose mark do you bear? In the midst of confusion, in world's tangled snare, May our hearts be aligned with the One who is true, In the image of God, let our purpose shine through. So let us live, with purpose and grace, In the light of His love, let us find our place.

This Christian song is based on the Gospel accounts of Jesus raising the daughter of Jairus. The lyrics take some significant "artistic freedom" in describing the daughter's experience when this occurred, so it is not just a simple recounting of what the Gospels tell us. LYRICS: In the gentle heart of Capernaum I was raised, God-fearing parents caring for every need. In the synagogue where the Lord was praised, It was my father who gratefully got to lead. Yet blessed with only twelve years of age, I felt the cold grip of sickness taking hold. There was a man seen as a prophet or a sage, Worry united with love and made my father bold. Having witnessed that man's great power before, In words where his authority was explicit. He could just stand waiting and praying no more, Went and found him to humbly ask for a visit. Sickness dragged me near the door of death, Where I fell through the angelic veils. As deep sleep drew me through tunnel's breadth, A vision restored sight like falling scales. In death I felt more awake than ever before, When starting to walk toward the light. In the footsteps of ones already on the shore, Encouraged by the gentle glow in sight. I cannot explain it but somehow I knew, In the warm glow of his everpresent love. The one who reached hand from the other side, Was next to my bed and watching from above. In my soul I saw him as a pleasant light ahead, But my body felt his gentle healing touch. Taking me by hand to lead away from the dead, I had never felt so whole or loved as much. Like a potter restoring a badly broken vessel, He healed my body and opened my soul's eyes. Words commanding life made a troubled soul settle, He called me his own and told me to rise.

This is a song about the cross of Jesus Christ and its meaning and significance in the life of a Christian. LYRICS: I have come here once again, To lose and find myself, Still fleeing but aching to be free. His pierced hands outstretched, To loose and bind my self, Now seeing the true fruit of the tree. At the foot of this strangely comforting cross, Eyes opened to the shocking holiness of love once more. I find my place in the truly gainful loss, The love that kills but makes alive again and evermore. I find my place in the truly gainful loss, The love that kills but makes alive again and evermore.

This Christian song is based on the Gospel account of Jesus healing a man born blind (John chapter 9). LYRICS: Once blind, in the shadows I dwelled, Life's colors and lights withheld. Voices familiar, faces remained unseen, In solitude, through darkness I've been. Eyes bound by night, the world felt alone, Goodness of creation by shadow overthrown. But then You came, a whisper in the clay, Crafted sight on the Sabbath day. Mercy melds the mud, a touch of the divine, You asked for nothing, this gift purely Thine. I was blind, now I see, Your light overwhelming me, From the dust, You called my name, in Siloam, I washed away my shame. Once lost, now found, on holy ground, You opened my eyes, in You my hope abides. They questioned me, "How can this be?" "The man called Jesus, He healed me." Doubt and debate, they could not see, The simple truth that had set me free. From their sight, their hearts flee, their souls in chains while I'm free. Cast out, alone, yet not afraid, Your mercy, the comfort in the shade. Revealed as the Son of Man to me, In worship, Lord, forever I'll be. I was blind, now I see, Your light overwhelming me, "Let there be light," You again decreed, At Siloam, my eyes from darkness were freed. Once lost, now found, on holy ground, You opened my eyes, in You my hope abides. No longer defined by the night, In Your grace, I've found my sight. Rising up from the earth, reborn, In Your image, no longer torn. Through Your love, my life’s redone, in Your light as brilliant as the sun. I was blind, now I see, Your brilliance shining on me, From my night, Your word brought day, in Your light, I’ll forever stay. Once lost, now found, by grace unbound, You opened my eyes, in You my heart resides. Once blind, now I see, through Your love, I'm finally free, With new eyes, I'll follow Your ways, In Your light, I'll live my days.

This Christian rock song is based on the Biblical account of Jesus walking on water in Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33. LYRICS: In the mist of early morning hours, On the Sea of Galilee a boat sails. The roaring waves show their raging powers, Rattling the boat's sturdy cedary base. These stormy waters are indeed a theater, Of quiet hope and life's endless drama plays. Dread of harsh elements makes many a man falter, Yet here their source of sustenance stays. Something approaching over turbulent waters, Fills the crew's trembling hearts with fear. Then a gleam of recognition sparks amidst the bothers, Has their beloved master somehow arrived here? Arising from his nervous distress, One of the men now braves. Standing up to face and address, The one who treads on the waves. He shouts out to ask: Lord, is it you? And later when the time is due, He will see how deeply it was true, When his own futile steps fall through. In the moment's haughtiness, Misjudging the depth of his newfound trust, He moves himself amidst the waves, Now he has no footing and sink he must. Ready to voice his desperate final shout, He finds the place of truest security. Surrendering own efforts to only cry out: Lord Jesus, save me!

The hauntingly beautiful sounds of "The Flower by His Dark Path" offer a musical exploration of losing hope and meaning in life but finding them again. This lyric video tells a story of a solitary journey through life's shadows that takes a turn from hopelessness to the light of hope. Song lyrics: Sad eyes of a man who walks the roadside, Hint of a quietly suffering soul's drought. His shell is now empty but still fit to hide, The depth of sense of sorrow life has brought. Once again he passes by an old church, A beacon of his childhood now distant. By the path he sees a blue iris under a birch, Slowly withering its life out of existence. As he looks down to the flower's fading state, Soul's drought transforms into a stream of tears. Nature's silky window to beauty shares his fate, In this ruthless march of months and years. Longing for quiet amidst the inward storm, He decides to walk into a nearby forest. But silence can be a ravaging worm, That feeds on wounds at their sorest. Encircled in his doubtful plight, He feels helpless in the moment's distress. After years away from the light, Darkness proved to be a cruel temptress. Without direction in the forest as in life, He turned to look around but fell over. As he arose he saw a form of a cross, Shrouded in light on top of a bell tower. The form was most familiar, Yet it now looked all new. Surfacing from the subliminal, Were the words of hope he always knew. On his way back he passes by the same flower, Droplets of sorrow still lying on its leaves. Hope's renewal had brought its hidden power, To make it bloom again as the creator's hand weaves. Approaching the church with newfound sight, His soul awakens to its hoping. As darkness slowly erodes to the night, The door is open.