A Few of My Favorite Songs of 2022

Kurt Neuswanger • Dec 31, 2022

Choosing “best” songs is always a subjective thing. And since I’m the one doing the choosing, these are “a few of my favorite songs”! Enjoy!

 

Sunday Sermons

Anne Wilson

20 year old Anne Wilson brought us the hugely touching and popular song “My Jesus” in 2021 (the one about the loss of her brother in a car accident). “Sunday Sermons” continues Anne’s trademark southern style with a tribute to her Christian heritage. (By the way, check out her song video for a cool picture of man who goes out of his way to help others as he is driving down a country road.)

 

Seven years old, third row pew John 3:16, something changed in me Red letters coming off the page Flooding my heart with amazing grace I knew then I believed And those roots run deep Oh I been through some faith shaking hard times Yeah But nothing’s gonna make me forget

 

  Every one of those Sunday sermons
  Every time that choir would sing
  I could hear my Savior calling,

  telling me how much He loves me
 

  Devil gon' try and take me out of that church
  But you can't take the church out of me
  Devil gon' try and take me out of that church
  But you can't take the church out of me

 

Crazy People

Casting Crowns

You have to love a song that calls Christians “crazy people”—and means it as a compliment!

 

  Who builds a boat with no clouds in sight?
  Who walks up to a giant and picks the fight?
  Who turns a lion's den into a petting zoo?
  Who can have a church in the fire of furnace?

  Well, I'll tell you

 

  Crazy people trust in Jesus
  Following Him wherever He leads us
  Kingdom seekers, walk by faith believers
  Here's the church, here's the steeple,

  here's to all God's crazy people

 

Jesus Is Coming Back

Jordan Feliz

Jordan Feliz has a knack for catchy tunes, as I well remember, listening to him at the Chris Tomlin concert at the Las Colonias Amphitheatre last summer. At least, I remember his songs in fits and starts, as thunderstorms and lightning caused multiple delays. (Thankfully, the entire concert was eventually able to finish for all the hearty fans who persevered!)

 

  Have you ever thought that the world has kinda lost its way?

  Crazy as it seems, yeah, I know it's gonna be okay
  It doesn't scare me, it's temporary
  There's something better, we got forever
  And it won't be long, 'cause we know our help is on the way
 

  So, keep your head up
  Jesus is coming back, Jesus is coming back
  No, don't you give up (hey)
  Jesus is coming back, Jesus is coming back

 

I’m Not Lucky, Just Blessed

Love & the Outcome

Speaking of catchy tunes, there’s few catchier than this, from the husband-wife duo who brought us “If I Don’t Have You” and “You Got This.”

 

  Some would call it good fortune
  Some would call it good luck
  Some would say that the stars align
  But in my mind, it doesn't add up, no
  Some would call it good timing
  But I know more than anything
  I live in victory 'cause I'm a child of the king

 

  You know I gotta give credit where credit is due
  Every good thing that I got, I only got because of You
  No four-leaf clover and no good-luck charm
  The only thing I'm counting on is Your everlasting love

 

  I'm not lucky, I'm blessed
  I can't deny it
  I'm not lucky, I'm blessed
  Why try to fight it?
  I'm not lucky, I'm blessed

 

(God Is In A) Good Mood

Richlin

You might notice a trend here: catchy! And at first glance, some people no doubt were thinking “God doesn’t have moods!” And you’d be correct, but that’s the point of the song. Richlin (Brandon Richardson) is addressing people who really do think God has “bad moods” when He is going to “get you” for messing up. In fact, when you have Jesus in your heart, that’s who God sees in you!

 

  There's been some miscommunication, misinterpretation

  Some say God is love but full of aggravation

  Some say He don't talk to you Unless you're perfect too

  But if you know Him you can laugh, Cause you know that ain't true

 

  Cause it's Jesus that He sees you through

  Even on your worst day, after a mistake

  He don't change, the way the weather do

  Here's some hope that you can hold onto, God is in a good mood

 

I’m So Blessed

CAIN

We wrote about this song last year when it came out, because it has one of the more creative music videos! The band (siblings Taylor, Madison and Logan Cain from Alabama) made a video in the style of a 70s TV show, where they all fall in the swimming pool with their instruments but continuing singing “I’m so blessed!”

 

  Trouble knocking at my door today

  I ain't gonna let it in

  And worry wanna steal my joy away

  But I ain't gonna let it win

 

  'Cause on my best day, I'm a child of God

  On my worst day, I'm a child of God

  Oh, everyday is a good day

  And You're the reason why

 

  I'm so blessed, I'm so blessed

  Got this heartbeat in my chest

  No, it doesn't matter about the rest

  If I got You Lord, I'm so blessed

Share The Light Tips of the Day

By Dave Andrews • 04 Apr, 2024
Our annual Spring FriendRaiser is underway for the month of April; and as a part of that, our theme this year is Share The Light. As you share the Gospel and the Light of Christ, KJOL has compiled 30 tips for every day of the month. Here they are:

Songs that say THANK YOU!

By Kurt Neuswanger • 04 Apr, 2024
During KJOL’s April “Friendraiser” month, we want to say THANK YOU to our faithful supporters. And THANK YOU to everyone who makes a first-time donation. And finally THANK YOU to God, the giver of all good gifts in our lives, starting with Jesus Christ! KJOL has a lot of new songs that say THANK YOU. I hope you enjoy them! That Thank You Song! Citizen Way Thank God Stars Go Dim Thank You Life.Church Worship I Thank God Housefires Thanks Giver Crowder Thanks and Praise Lucy Grimble and Vineyard Music A Thousand Thank Yous Sarah Kroger Thankful VERSES Thank You Jesus For The Blood Charity Gayle

Four More New Artists

By Kurt Neuswanger • 07 Mar, 2024
In January, we told you about four new artists at the KJOL music blog . This month, we have four more new artists. Jordan Smith “This Is Jesus” Jordan Smith is a 30 year old Kentucky native who grew up singing in the church choir. In 2015, he won NBC’s The Voice. He sang “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and "Mary Did You Know." Natalie Layne “Amen” Natalie Layne is a 24 year old Colorado Springs native, where she was a worship leader at New Life Church. She received a masters degree in piano from Belmont University in Nashville. In 2019, she won Belmont’s Christian Showcase. She continues to serve as a worship leader at her church in Nashville. Terrian “Big God” Terrian (Woods) is a singer/songwriter from Memphis. She is also a member of TobyMac's band Diverse City. And she serves on the staff of AngelStreet in Memphis, which mentors girls as part of an all girls choir. Seph Schleuter “Counting My Blessings” Seph Schlueter ( pronounced “seff shleeter”) spent 7 years as a missionary. In 2020 he formed the worship collective Damascus Worship, in conjunction with the organization “Damascus” which conducts two-year programs to develop leaders who will impact their generation for Christ with the aim of bringing revival to the Catholic Church.

Oh The Many Repairs...

By Dave Andrews • 04 Mar, 2024
He had noticed we had been off the air on 94.5 FM in Delta…and I related to him it was one of “those” weekends for our poor equipment. Not only did our AM 1400 Delta transmitter go down causing us to make a very expensive replacement only weeks before, but our FM transmitter in Delta went down at the same time as our Montrose 91.9FM transmitter, and only hours after our whole network went down across the Western Slope!

February Update

By Dave Andrews • 05 Feb, 2024
The other day a kindly woman knocked on my door asking for a donation to help build the local swimming pool. I came back with a glass of water. Doesn’t it feel great to give to a good cause??

"How Great Thou Art" 75th Anniversary Edition

By Kurt Neuswanger • 31 Jan, 2024
The English version of the hymn “How Great Thou Art” turns 75 years old in 2024. To mark the anniversary, a new recording has been released, including a brand new verse by Matt Redman. First a little history… Swedish pastor Carl Boberg wrote the original lyrics in 1885. Boberg said that after a strong thunderstorm passed by, he opened his window and heard church bells ringing. He immediately was inspired to write his poem, set to the tune of a Swedish folk melody. It was translated into Russian, where English missionary Stuart Hine heard it while in Ukraine in 1931. He wrote two new verses (3 & 4) and translated it into English in 1949—which is the 75 th anniversary. British missionaries around the world soon began to spread the song. Eventually it reached Billy Graham and George Beverly Shea , who performed it during Graham’s 1957 New York Crusade. The audience liked it so much, they asked Shea to sing it over and over. Graham then used it every week on his Hour Of Decision radio program. Fifteen artists have now collaborated to record the 75th anniversary edition, called “How Great Thou Art (Until That Day)” . When you hear the song on KJOL, the first two voices are from Chris Tomlin and Hillary Scott . The remaining voices include: Kari Jobe and her husband, Cody Carnes Naomi Raine (Maverick City Music) Taya (formerly with Hillsong) Blessing Offor (from Nigeria) Matt Maher (who also plays piano) Matt Redman For the 75 th anniversary, the Stuart Hine Trust commissioned Matt Redman and Mitch Wong to write a new fifth verse: Until that day When heaven bids us welcome, And as we walk this broken warring world, Your kingdom come, Deliver us from evil, And we’ll proclaim our God how great You are! And we’ll proclaim, our God how great You are Redman said they wanted to tie the verse to Stuart Hine’s work in Ukraine, especially in light of the current conflict there. “I wanted the word ‘war’ in there,” said Redman . “It’s kind of a gritty word. But we have to sing about both the everyday and the eternal.” Time will tell if the fifth verse becomes a staple in hymnals. But few will argue that “How Great Thou Art” is one of America’s favorite hymns. And with this new rendition, hopefully it will continue to be loved by future generations.
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