jamming: Dustin Kensrue- This Good Night Is Still Everywhere

While the whole of this ten-tracker pleases me on the merit of its well-tested tracks: from the traditionals (Hark, O Come, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Holy Night) and seasonals (Blue Christmas, Baby Please Come Home) to some more obscure tunes (Christmas Blues, Fairytale of New York), it is the originals that stand out.  The title track beams, "Everything looks beautiful as far as I can see, and this good night's still everywhere to me."  Sounds sappy and sentimental, but conveys the hope and optimism of this album and this season.

Finally, the key moment on this Vagrant release, THIS IS WAR paints a reflective theological picture largely absent from the typical CCM X-Mas playlist (or my own for that matter).  He concludes with:

"This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
With hangdog hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.

This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.

This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man."

Mystery indeed.  Praise God from whom these (and all) blessings flow.