The brand-new album by rock/worship band Cloverton, titled Patterns, is based on Romans 12:2 (NIV): "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

 

That passage alone is an important devotional challenge as we are bombarded by the world with pressures to conform to the pattern of this world. What's especially cool about this new album by this independent band out of Kansas is how their album is true to that biblical description with the strong messages. Musically the album doesn't conform to the pattern of typical CCM worship music. The vibe is very ambient, with Brit rock sensibilities and reminds me of Imagine Dragons, Hillsong UNITED, and Coldplay mashed up together.

 

I had the opportunity to interview lead singer/keyboardist Lance Stafford about their great new song, "Glowing in the Dark." 

 

Please tell me the personal story behind writing this song.
 

For us, the lyrical content is really, really important. Every song is cared for and nurtured in the writing process. We want to make sure our songs say what we want to say and what God wants us to say. Every song goes through the mill of re-writes and thinking about if this is the best way to say something, and if people can relate to this. How does this maybe convey a truth in a new way that people haven't heard said that way before? That is the key to keeping things fresh for people is not saying things the way they've always been said. Telling truth but in a new way is one thing we shoot for when we're writing.

Every song has a different story behind it. Some of our songs are metaphorical, but "Glowing in the Dark" is pretty straightforward. What it says is what it is about. The backstory is that we've been partnering with a non-profit for a couple of years now called "World Hope." They are a lesser-known organization and we ran into them at an event and struck up a friendship with them, and had the opportunity to work with them. What they do is they build Hope Centers all over the world. They've built two or three. One is in Kenya. They buy land and clear it out in one of the major slums, in Nairobi, and they built a church, and found people living in that community to be their hands and feet in Kenya. They teach the Gospel. They establish clinics and a school for kids from kindergarten to 12th grade. That's the model. They've built one in Nicaragua. They are building one in Detroit, Michigan. They bought an old Junior High School or High School that's been condemned for many years and build a Hope Center. People think, "Detroit? That's in America, they can't be in need." Detroit's a really impoverished place, and it's a way to get people who can't go overseas to see what they are doing here in our country. All that to say that is what inspired the song. The song is about missional living. I remember when I was a kid singing the "This Little Light of Mine." This is a grown-up version of that concept. 

 

Ephesians 5:11-17 (NIV): "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: 'Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

 

Matthew 5:14-16 (The Voice): "And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illuminate creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it."

 

Imagery wise, we are these little mirrors that reflect the grace and glory of God. If we live out our faith the way we are designed to, we can go and be these reflections of Christ in places that we would consider dark corners, like third world countries, or that slum in Kenya—maybe the rough part of town and the other side of the tracks like in Detroit. The song is a call to live missionally and reflect the light of Christ in what you do, what you say, how you behave, and how you treat people.

 

 

I love this great new song by Cloverton, and their album Patterns has quickly become one of my top worship albums of the year, fitting nicely in with other ambient worship projects like Zion by Hillsong UNITED, Citizens by Citizens, and Heart by The City Harmonic. If you like those bands and albums, then don't hesitate to check out Cloverton.

 

It's important as believers that others around us see the light of Jesus reflected in our lives. In our words, actions, behaviors, even our thoughts. That's what Romans 12:2 and this album is about, the patterns that we align ourselves with. Are we conforming to the patterns of the prince of this world? That's darkness. Our enemy seeks to destroy us with those patterns. Or, are we praying for the renewing and transforming of our minds so that we can reflect the light of Jesus in our lives? The opening lyrics of this song reflect the wake-up call to the Church as evidenced in Ephesians 5:14. "Wake up sleeper / Lift your head / we were made for more than this / Wipe the slumber from your eyes."

 

Regarding this great song, "Glowing in the Dark," my pastor recently shared that "a lamp doesn't talk, but it shines." That's our job as Christians. Sometimes it is better to keep our mouths closed and not get in the way of the Gospel. Instead, "Go on glowing in the dark." Amen to that!

 

(Here's a teaser of the new album.)