There was one common thread that ran through much of the music that was written and sung during the Jesus Movement, and that was the message of the gospel. Just as worship is the common theme of Christian music today, so the gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ was the dominant theme of the Jesus Music of the Jesus Movement. Much of it was personal, telling the story of the writers’ desperate need and the grace of God coming to the rescue. Few did it as deeply and as emotionally as this song by Glen Kaiser, then of Resurrection Band.

Paint A Picture

Glenn Kaiser

Oh the hours of agony in that darkened room

Silhouetted by an ache to be desired by someone

Hating who you are and what you’ve made of yourself

Not forgiving yourself for you

What was I trying to prove running from you?

And it hurts me so to see that box I know

Filled with photographs of things I knew

But you promised me you’d make all things new

Paint a picture of a lonely life

Paint a picture of a cold, grey night

Paint a picture of the emptiest day you’ve ever known

Paint a picture of a starving man

Paint a picture, being born again

Paint a picture of an empty cage for this bird has flown

When you live all alone hating your only companion

They tell you it’s alright but baby you know that’s a lie

I reached the bottom

I hope you don’t have to find out the way I did

Trip after trip and try after try after try

Paint a picture of a broken heart

Paint that picture and you can start

To understand the love of the Savior

And oh how He understands you

Paint a picture of a blood-covered cross

See that picture and you’ll know what it cost

The price God paid to prove His love for you

To prove His love for you

To prove His love for you

To prove His love for you

The Jesus Movement was a troubled, desperate generation out of answers, out of hope, and finding Jesus to be what they had been seeking all along — love, peace, acceptance, community, purpose, meaning and hope. It was a whole generation coming home.

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Thoughts on Juneteenth Day

Today marks the third time Juneteenth Independence Day has been celebrated since it became a national holiday in 2021. It’s going to take some getting used to. It’s unfortunate that this holiday is coming amidst a backlash in this country against  anything that smacks of the education about America’s troubled racial history. This is unfortunate because history is important, both the good and bad parts of it. The holocaust must be remembered, the Vietnam War and those who died mustn’t be forgotten and even the Bible makes it clear for history’s sake who killed Jesus and why. Mistakes of the past are important to remember lest they be repeated. We can’t help our black friends and neighbors celebrate their freedom without knowing what it was like to not be free.