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Breathe Now

In History, Social Justice, Theology by Keith Sanford3 Comments

Breathe Now is a song of hope in the face of adversity and oppression. Building on a familiar hymn tune, its words are inspired by Martin Luther King, his Dream, his determination, and his use of biblical imagery to energize the pursuit of equality and justice.

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Whips

In History, Social Justice by Keith SanfordLeave a Comment

Whips is a song remembering the history of slavery, to confront racism and oppression today. A privileged class of people lived in world built on a cotton industry that ripped children from mothers, placed Black people in coffles, and used whips and torture to extract work out of slaves.

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Ocean

In Environment, Psychology, Theology by Keith Sanford1 Comment

Ocean is a song finding comfort in divine presence, yet still embracing some anxiety. It draws images from a majestic ocean landscape and from the first chapter of Genesis to describe a unique type of comfort that is relevant, authentic, and meaningful.

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Burning Land of Flame

In Environment, History by Keith SanfordLeave a Comment

Burning Land of Flame is a song of warning about the ways humans foolishly destroy the earth. It draws from Jesus’ words about the valley of Gahenna, and it uses a 400-year-old tune to tell a historical story about early railroads and homesteading in the United States.

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Hope and Tears

In History, Social Justice by Keith SanfordLeave a Comment

Hope and Tears is a song about the Trail of Tears, the trail traveled by the Cherokee and other Native American peoples when they were expelled from their homeland in the 1830s. They were forced to march hundreds of miles and thousands of people died along the way.

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Kaleidoscope

In Environment, Psychology, Theology by Keith Sanford1 Comment

Kaleidoscope is a song about faith and emotion. It is about a faith that finds beauty woven into the fabric of the universe, and how our emotions, both “good” and “bad,” have the potential to make us aware of this beauty and move us toward it.

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Meanings

In Theology by Keith Sanford2 Comments

Meanings is a song about a modern, inspirational way to interpret ancient religious texts (like the Christian Bible). The beauty and power of ancient religious texts may lie in their ability to inspire multiple meanings. Each person that encounters them may find something new.

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Who Will Weep?

In History, Social Justice by Keith Sanford5 Comments

Who Will Weep? is a song of compassion for refugees. In 1939, the SS St. Louis sailed near the coast of Florida with more than 900 Jewish refugees on board fleeing from Nazi Germany. The United States forced them to return to Europe and many later perished in the Holocaust.

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Dancing Child

In Theology by Keith SanfordLeave a Comment

Where is the presence of goodness and beauty most pure and vibrant? It might be in a place bearing the marks of weakness and poverty. Dancing Child is a song of how people without privilege are precious.