By: Kevan Breitinger

Mission House Music is the aptly-titled label behind Jim Murphy’s sophomore project; both the label and the artist seem to center their energies on the mission first, with an openly Christ-first focus to their projects. Which is not to say the music doesn’t matter. Adult Contemporary lovers will greatly enjoy Murphy’s pop songs and inspirational bent.

Everything Changes starts strongly with Murphy’s warm rendition of the great Twila Paris song, “How Beautiful.” The orchestration is thick, the vocal is passionately delivered, and the bridge soars to the heights of expression. There’s pop a-plenty on the project, from the soulful “Break Free,” to the twangy, bouncy “You Are God,” to “My God Is With Me,” notable for its electric guitar solo. Other tracks take a bigger, more dramatic turn: the string-heavy title track, an appreciative affirmation of God’s saving sacrifice, and “Taken Back,” with its wailing guitar nuances and percolating rhythms.

Murphy closes with one of the more introspective tracks: under the quietly pulsating instrumentation of ballad “Faith Hope and Love” he explores the qualities of each trait. Everything Changes is a feel-good project, fills your spirit as much as your soul

Today I continue with my series on my new album “Everything Changes” giving a brief look and application into each song. Break Free, such a simple thing to say but such a difficult thing to grasp. But why? In life we are faced with daily struggles. I know I deal with things that could seemingly press me down and discourage me from little to large virtually every day. From temptation , doubt, depression, addictions we are all faced with utterly difficult situations time and time again in our lives. Each persons journey in life is different but each persons struggles are all so similar. They all begin with a seed of doubt being planted, a seed of sorrow, a seed of lust, all planted by Satan. All planned to destroy ourself at our  inner core and to damage our relationship with Christ. While maybe not the greatest example of doubt , just this past week my wife broke a bone in her foot. Which by the way… is “Not good.” Immediatley I began to think about the situation at hand. Visualizing and audiblizing things like.. “How am I going to continue to travel and perform?” How can I possibly do what my wife does for our children” “How Lord, How?” You see I have 3 children, one a 6 month old. Yeah.. so, there I am thinking Okay Lord, why? Why Me? Needless to say I was just abit flustered yet, I wasnt the one injured but boy oh boy had satan turned this one on me. Just over the past few days I caught myself thinking “Here I have this crazy busy schedule and now Beth , of all things, steps on a toy and brakes her foot.” To complicate things further, following the accident, surgery was apparently the only option according to our General Practioner. So great, now not only were we dealing with a broken foot, but a surgically repaired broken foot. Finally from this point on I began to realize what was happening. Satan was taking this little broken bone and turning it into a pityfest a doubt festival. Taking thought by thought and discouraging me and discouraging my wife. Immediatley we started praying for her foot and that God would heal her and that surgery would not be neccesary. I shared with many of you on these message boards about the accident. and many of you offered up prayers for her health. My wife and I are so grateful to you! Our prayers were answered! Yesterday in a totally unexpected turn of events the orthopedic DR told us that Surgery was not required. The bone had it been broken 1/2 inch further would have required a surgical operation. 1/2 inch! Now thats close! God is Great! There is no doubt in our minds that he answered our prayers! There I stood only days earlier, doubting Him and pleading “Why?”

This story may not pertain to you but it does spell out How God works! In life we have chains that bind us. They sometimes even go as far to remove us from our walk with Christ. Satan takes something as small as a broken bone and turns it into a Mountain of Pain and Sorrow. The one thing though that remains is that Jesus never leaves us. Whether it be at our highest or lowest points, He is there. Waiting and yearning for us to return to Him for guidance. He tests us at our very core. Our faith in Him is what He cherishes most. What chains hold you down? Move on to a new life with Jesus today! He is ready and willing to give you a second chance!

Todays verse comes from Matthew Chapter 6 Verse 33 “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given unto you.”

Blessings

Jim

 Good Monday to All

I pray each of you had a safe week. I wanted to take a few minutes today to give everyone an “inside” look at the song and title track of my new album “Everything Changes.” About a Year and a half ago I was vacationing in Destin, Florida with my family and friends. During this time I was just about in go mode for the production of my new album and was geared to start finding songs.  In fact, we were all very excited to get started but knew it was going to be a very tedious process putting the album together.

Now by no means am I a great song writer. In fact I am sooooo not one, but one night at the beach God intervened and gave me the words to this song. It was about 4 Am in the morning when I awoke in the condo to grab a glass of water. I looked out across the room and saw the moon hitting the ocean. An almost chilling feeling came across my body as I walked onto the balcony and sat, listening to the waves crash one by one. During this serene time on the balcony, I started reflecting on my life and started recalling my adolescent years following my salvation.  Not long into my thought process I began thinking about how “Everything had Changed” and how God turned me from my irresponsible ways and placed his trust with me to go Minister to His People through music.  Immediatley I knew He was speaking to me and giving me reflection for something much greater than for just my thoughts.  Following this revelation, I went inside the Condo and grabbed a Channel Line up sheet on top of the television. I began to scribble thoughts, one by one by one. Then verse 1 was written, soon after verse 2 and before sunrise I had the entire song written and the melody to match, or I should say God had the song written.

Naturally I was so excited! Immediatley I wanted to call my producer and tell him about what happened but realized it was much too early for that. When my wife awoke I shared with her the song and the experience I had while writing it.  Its amazing how God works, and I thought I was thirsty at 4 Am?  Oh No, God had Big plans even at 4 am in the morning when I least expected it.  

What about you? Have you ever had an experience with God that totally caught you by suprise? God remains at work Every day in our lives. He is a living God! How awesome to think that even in the most unforseen times and places that He is there working to draw us ever closer to His Word.  Our verse for the week comes from Hebrews Chapter 13 Verse 5.                                                                                                                        

The Lord has assured us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)

Isn’t comforting to know the He is always there. No matter our tribulations God has conquered all. Pray and reflect on how God has changed your life or how you want Him to change your life today. Ask him to reveal his plan for your life and that His will be done from this day forward.

Blessings

Jim

Album Review by www.ccmbuzz.com

Arkansas-native Jim Murphy may be a new name among Buzz readers, but he certainly isn’t new to the industry. His second album, Everything Changes, released in February, and the first single from the album climbed 20 positions in one month on the CRW Inspirational chart. With a voice like Mark Schultz and unique lyrics that get you excited about living a Christian way of life, Jim Murphy won’t be going anywhere but up.

Starting off the album is the first single, a remake of Twila Paris’ “How Beautiful.” The song serves as a reminder to all of how beautiful Jesus lived His life – serving, walking, bleeding, and forgiving. It’s a beautiful song that deserved its fantastic run on the charts, peaking at number 18.

The title track of the album plays at number three, where the lyrics accompany a very nice, calming melody. Murphy sings of the many changes that take place when we choose Jesus for our life – “Everything changes and all becomes new. Our sins die away; the storm’s calmed by You.” Even those with dark times in the past, Murphy tells us that we should have known that Jesus was there the whole time.

This song ends and seems to roll right into the next song, “Starting Over”, somewhat of a continuation of the title track. Since first listen, I have dubbed it my life story. The slower-tempo second single has already broken into the Top 10 singles on the Inspirational chart in March. After learning that “everything changes” with Jesus in the previous song, “Starting Over” explains that even if you follow your own path, you can try with Jesus again when you fail. It’s an all too common story of Christians falling away from the Chosen Path, but Murphy reminds us in this song that “Jesus waits for you through the night, ’til you finally lose your right. He welcomes you back into His loving arms to start all over again.” This song is becoming my favorite of the album.

“Taken Back (Take 2)” is one of the more upbeat songs of the album. It brought me back to the days of being newly saved. We all know the feeling – excited about virtually everything. We want to shout the excitement, the words “I am so amazed how You gave Your life away. I am taken back, I am blown away…I can’t help but talk about it!” Through this song, Murphy expresses how we should all feel all the time. The great blend of the fast paced music and down to earth lyrics get you excited about our final destination of Heaven, since we sometimes dream about the day we get to see Jesus’ face. Behind “Starting Over”, this is a top favorite.

One of the most distinctive songs I’ve ever heard is the last song on Everything Changes. “Faith, Hope and Love” is written from each one’s perspective, personifying the nouns. Each verse is reserved for each word, where they define themselves and plead for us to believe in them again. Love’s verse is my personal favorite, when Murphy sings that it “speaks the loudest, the keeper of them all…the passion in laughter and tears.” The song explains that each word carries the promises that “Heaven’s not so far.” Though ending the album with a slow pace, this song is very different and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was chosen as the next single to blaze through the charts like its predecessors.

Jim Murphy’s sophomore album is one for everybody, enhancing any music collection. Everything Changes is a feel good album you can listen to at any point in your life and play it again right away to catch a lyric or two you missed the first time around. Preview it yourself at his Myspace (myspace.com/jimmurphymusic) and be sure to watch out for his next single, bound to hop the charts, which should give you even more reason to purchase the whole album!

 Introducing “Arkin Terrell”

Hey Guys! I would like everyone to go check out a very good friend of mine “Arkin Terrell”  Arkin is a Great Guy! He has released a Country/Gospel CD that is just downright Incredible!  You can check out his music by visiting www.myspace.com/arkinterrell  or www.arkinonline.com.    Please be sure and leave a comment on his myspace and let him know you dropped by. 

  

When You’ve trusted God and walked his way, when you’ve felt His hand lead you everyday but your walk leads another way , you can Start With Jesus Again!

Borrowing the words above from my New Single “Start All Over.” Haven’t we all experienced that point in our life where we feel “lost” and removed from Gods presence? Maybe its that we let the Hustle and Bustle of everyday life get to us, Maybe its resentment or “Why God? why did this happen to me? Sometimes we may make a wrong decision and that decision haunts us to the point where we feel we can’t face God. Oh, but there is great news. Jesus waits! He waits for us to come back to His side and longs for an intimate relationship with His children! All he asks is that we confess with our Mouth that He is Lord and that we have sinned. Once we commit to Him He immediately lifts and heal those burdens which trouble us. He will Never forsake us! What a beautiful message!  As Christians, We can seek comfort in His word and His promise of salvation on a daily basis. Matthew 11, Verse 28 and 29 speaks to this very issue.

Matthew 11:28, 29

Come to me and I will give you rest–all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke–for it fits perfectly–and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens”

Today make it a point to ask God to help you slow down and listen for His ultimate Wisdom and perfect will for your life.

Blessings

Jim

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