Christian Arts Ministries

Executive Director's Blog

Beyond This Life
Dec 30, 2011

Maybe it’s my age but more and more I’m looking beyond this life. Have you considered how brief our life is here on earth? The Bible compares it to grass that springs up and soon withers away. Sooner rather than later we begin to wonder what will follow this life. Most people have an innate sense that they were created to live forever. Rumors abound in world religions and philosophies about what is coming. Hints are all around us, built into the very fabric of our lives, our bodies and our world with its seasons and changes.

Author Mark Buchanan, drawing on inspiration from the famous twentieth century intellectual, author, and philosopher C. S. Lewis, explored these ideas in his excellent book, “Things Unseen: Living in Light of Forever.” As I read this captivating book it gave me fresh desire and longing for Heaven and so inspired me, I knew I had to turn those thoughts and longings into music. The ideas became songs which has become my newest musical, “The Mists of Forever: What We Can See From Here.”

Into all of our lives comes moments of yearning for something better, something lasting that fully explains our existence. In “The Mists of Forever,” I wanted to mix the power of the spoken word with wonderful Celtic-flavored music presented by soloists, chorus, and professional orchestra to ignite our yearning for things to come. There is a CD put out by Integrity Music (City of Gold) that has songs themed around Heaven. While it is a wonderful project, to my ear the contemporary music didn’t fit the concept of Heaven. In writing the original music for this project, I have flavored them with the lush, gentle and emotive flavors of Celtic music, much like you know from Celtic Women or Celtic Thunder seen on public television.

The Mists of Forever is designed not just to appeal to the heart, but also the mind. Within the thoughts expressed by the songs there is proof as well as explanation of the afterlife. We will anticipate the joys promised and hear the descriptions of the place the Scriptures call heaven.

I have heard songs about heaven, I have seen shows that have touched on eternal themes and eternal life. But I have never seen anything like what the Lord has led me to create in “Mists of Forever: What We Can See From Here.” This portrait of the hereafter and the believer’s future promise is infused with both biblical truth and integrity of logical thought. It is also artistically rendered with beautiful melodies and orchestrations and I am so excited to teach it to our CAM choir and a professional orchestra.

I believe these two glorious performances will give audiences a desire for, a knowledge about, and assurance of how to prepare for heaven. Don’t miss the opportunity to let “The Mists of Forever” delight and enlighten you.