Nobody does tours like NewSong. When the group introduced its annual "Winter Jam Tour Spectacular" in 1995, NewSong started to change the public face of Christian music. The mega event on wheels has become one of the Gospel music world's biggest annual tours, with some history-making moments along the way. To this day, NewSong's multi-artist, ticketless concerts give thousands the opportunity not only to hear incredible music but, of course, to also hear the Gospel message.
 
Known for their live shows, this March NewSong has delivered their first live worship album in ten years, Faithful (Live), an intimate recording focusing on their acoustic concerts captured in the round. This collection brought the band back to the heart of what they do: leading people in worship.
 
The standout track for me personally is title track "Faithful," featuring Russ Lee and co-written with All Sons & Daughters. The song is an upbeat worship declaration in the style of "Psalm 40," sung with a stirring passion and filled with prayerful lyrics. This is an incredible song for the Church. You'll worship our King Jesus right along with Russ, in particular during the proclamation in the bridge. I had the chance to speak with Russ Lee in person at Winter Jam in Reading, PA about "Faithful."
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

I had a writing appointment in Franklin, Tennessee just outside of Nashville, and I was invited to meet with David Leonard and Leslie Jordan of All Sons and Daughters to write this song. I love their music, and I know their pastor and his wife. I know how they are connected to their local church and how they are worship leaders. They've come from a strong musical background, and their music resonates with me in my own quiet time of worship.
 
It was exciting for me even having been in music as long as I have. It was exciting to meet them and write with them. I had gone to see them in concert with my daughter, and it was a great night of worship, and I said "this is what the Church needs." I jumped at the chance.
 
They were working on an album themselves, and they said they had some unfinished songs they were writing. David played me "What is a sun if You don't give life? How do the stars shine? What are these days if You don't give life? How will these bones rise?" That's all he had. He sang it, and she harmonized.
 
We talked about how we are alive because of the faithfulness of God. I picked up my guitar and started singing "You are faithful, You are faithful." I said I didn't know where to go from there. David said, "You don't need to go anywhere from there. That's really the bottom line." The Bible says, "Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father." It's His faithfulness that endures for all generations.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

James 1:17 (NIV): "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
 
James 1:2-4 (NIV): "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
 
Ezekiel 37:7-10 (NKJV): So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 
 
What is the takeaway message?

"Faithful" is a great opportunity for us to focus on the fact that we are alive only because God is faithful. He has never wavered in His devotion to us, and He never will. There are so many things that we take for granted that we wouldn't have without God's faithfulness. The air that we breathe. The fact that we can look at each other and see. The fact that we can communicate, and worship, and love. All of these things are extraordinary gifts.
 
Jesus tells the woman at the well and others "I AM." He repeats the words God used to describe Himself at Mt. Sinai. When we were writing the song and kept singing "You are faithful" we knew we didn't need to say more because He is who He is, and He is faithful. That's the message of the song.

We have a couple of bridges: "we wait, we hope, we trust and we know, Your Word is our strength and joy." I wanted to say joy because so many times as Christians we talk about getting by and just hanging on until Jesus comes. When we look at the world around us, more than ever, it seems like doom is impending and sin is encroaching. The Bible says that in the presence of God, which every believer has access to, is fullness of joy.
 
Every word is very intentional. There are not a lot of words. "All I have needed Your hands provide." We wanted to write a song that literally points back to God. It is not about how we feel about God. At the very end, we have the second bridge, about not being afraid. Our confidence is in who God is and His faithfulness. It's a little different than pop songs, with the two bridges and short verses and chorus, but we wanted to declare the faithfulness of the Lord. I feel like the song does that. I could hear my church singing it, and I can't wait to take it home to my church.
 
Lyrics:
What is a sun if You don't give life?
How do the stars shine?
What are these days if You don't give life?
How will these bones rise?

You are faithful, You are faithful
You are faithful, You are faithful

Who keeps the lonely safe by His side?
A shelter from the night
All I have needed Your hands provide

So we wait
And we hope
We trust
And we know
That Your Word is
Our strength and joy

When the whole earth shakes
And the mountains quake
I won't be afraid because You are faithful
Falling on my knees, still You're holding me
I won't be afraid because You are faithful
 
Faithful is loaded with catchy melodies and solid lyrics reflecting unashamed faith in Jesus. This very solid live worship album really engages me from start to finish in my own time of worship and reflection about the attributes of God. All of the songs are catchy, exciting and worshipful. Faithful is a must-have for your praise and worship collection, providing multiple ways to "sing to the Lord a new song" (Psalm 96:1).
 
You'll be blessed by this powerful song which is a stand-out anthem with a convicting declaration: "So we wait, and we hope, we trust, and we know, That Your Word is our strength and joy." Is God's Word your strength and joy? Are you trusting God, knowing that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17)?
 
"Faithful" gives me a lot of joy, and my heartbeat is to please the Lord. I love songs that allow me to have fun and praise God at the same time, and this song certainly does that. I really enjoy how my love of fun, uplifting music and biblical truth is perfectly married in this song. The song is also a great reminder that our circumstances don't define our joy. Our position in Christ and His unending faithfulness is worthy of all our gratitude and adoration.
 
The song reflects the conviction and strength we can all have as God's army of dry bones who are filled with God's breath, and then we can breathe out as prophesied in Ezekiel 37. We live in a fallen and sinful world. One day we will have a new heaven and a new earth, and until then we need to all pray: "When the whole earth shakes, and the mountains quake, I won't be afraid because You are faithful. Falling on my knees, still You're holding me, I won't be afraid because You are faithful." Amen to that!
 
(Watch a performance of the song here.)