What's the story behind Hot Potato Soup?

Our 21st CD is called "Hot Potato Soup," because it features a few controversial topics that can be real "hot potatoes," mixed in with everything else like a soup. It may be a bit spicy, but we think you'll find it quite tasty.

Of course, God can make any soup better, as evidenced by this story in the Old Testament:

2 Kings 4:38-41
When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophetswere sitting before him, he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets." Then one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were. So they poured it out for the men to eat. And as they were eating of the stew, they cried out and said, "O man of God, there is death in the pot." And they were unable to eat. But he said, "Now bring meal." He threw it into the pot and said, "Pour it out for the people that they may eat." Then there was no harm in the pot.

Here's a synopsis of each of the songs

Barroom Hitz
This song is a little history lesson in recycled music. Some people mistakenly think Luther and Wesley borrowed barroom songs for melodies. They didn't ... but other famous hymn writers and hymns did. Even the tune for our National Anthem came from a drinking song. Repurposed music can be a valuable tool -- consider the French song adapted by Mozart that became "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" before we started using the same melody to teach the alphabet to our children.

Guard Your Candle
Jesus said He is the light of the world (John 8:12), but He also said we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Like a big candle sharing its flame with smaller candles, Jesus shares His light with us, and tells us to the same: "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Lived the Day You Died
This is the studio version of a song we debuted live on our 20:20 Vision CD. It's a modern day story of amazing grace in the form of a rap duet. J.'s oldest daughter, Janna, supplies the female vocals.

Do What David Did
Told from the perspective of the prophet Samuel, this little ditty is a study in contrasts between Israel's first king, Saul, and his successor, David. It encourages listeners to do what David did and Saul didn't do.

God's Blood
The Bible says "the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). But it also says "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (Hebrews 10:4). The blood of Christ, however, accomplishes what no other sacrifice could. Why? Because it's God's blood. As Acts 20:28 says, "Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."

For Just You
Maybe you've heard this statement before: "Jesus would have died on the cross for you even if you were the only sinner in the world." Is there any biblical evidence to back that up? Well in Luke 15:4-7, Jesus told a parable about a shepherd leaving 99 in his flock to find one lost sheep, and added, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." This is the studio version of the song we debuted live on 20:20 Vision.

Weep Jeremiah
Poor Jeremiah. He loved his people so much, but they considered him a bad influence (because he always seemed to be prophesying doom and gloom) and a traitor (because he told them the only way to avoid God's wrath was to surrender to the invading Babylonians). Of course, he was proven right, but it's not like that made him happy. As he wrote in Jeremiah 9:1, "Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people." This is the studio version of the song we debuted live on 20:20 Vision.

Special Stone
Although many expected the Messiah to be a conquering king, the Old Testament foretold that the stone the builders rejected would become the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22) -- a stone that caused men to stumble and a rock that made them fall (Isaiah 8:14), yet a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16).

Puffed-Up Cliques
The Christian life was never about "being a part of the in-crowd." As Jesus said in John 15:18, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." Therefore Hebrews 13:13 says "Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore." That's a tough choice to make if you're already in a clique. Is the main character in this song willing to make it?

Too Pregnant
We wrote the original version of this parody back in 1995 -- it's been waiting that long to make it onto a CD -- and revised the lyrics in 2011. It's a pro-life parody, which makes it sure to be controversial, but we truly hope it presents the pro-life position in a thought-provoking yet compassionate way. It's called "Too Pregnant" because we believe that even if a person is in the earliest stages of pregnancy, that's still "too pregnant" too terminate it.

You've Got Another King Comin'
The rough mix for this parody was previously available as a download for fans who donated in 2012. This is a polished mix with new vocals. This song discusses politics from a biblical perspective. We encourage believers to vote as they feel God leads them, but to always remember that God is ultimately in control of world events, including who gets put in power (Romans 13). Whether we like our leaders or not, we are commanded to show them respect (Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:17) and to pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-2), remembering that our king -- the King of Kings -- is yet to come.

Gimme Pre-Trib
People have various views regarding the Rapture, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Some believe in a pre-tribulation or pre-trib Rapture (occurring before the various disasters in the Book of Revelation hit the earth). Others believe in mid-trib; still others, in post-trib. And those aren't the only schools of thought. Tom Tincha believes in pan-trib (i.e. everything will pan out in the end). The singer in this song isn't pushing for a particular position -- merely saying that if he gets to choose when he goes to be with the Lord, "gimme pre-trib ... or before."

Lock
This song is from the perspective of a person who seemingly walked away from the faith but is now coming back to Christ. As he gets closer, he realizes Jesus never actually went away. As Romans 11:29 says, "for God.s gifts and his call are irrevocable." It's called "Lock" because he's unlocking the door to let the light back in. We hope that this song provides hope for those who feel estranged from the Lord and those who know people in that situation.

Man on a Cross
Jesus wasn't the only one crucified on Calvary the day He died; there were criminals on His left and right. One repented and one didn't. This is the story of the one who asked for mercy and received it. And like him, Galatians 2:20 says we who trust in Jesus have also been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in us.

Cemetery Came Alive
Did you know that Jesus wasn't the only one to bodily rise from the dead after the Crucifixion? The Bible says that immediately after He gave up His spirit on the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn in two, an earthquake occurred, and "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus. resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." (Matthew 27:52-53). Notice that it doesn't say they were ghosts, but that their bodies were raised to life! That little-known part of the story is recounted in this song.