My theme this month is the proverb of the day and since today is May 3rd, Proverbs 3:1 states:

“My son, do not forget my teaching but let your heart keep My commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.” (ESV)

This proverb sums up the band, Downhere (go to www.downhere.com and buy a couple of their albums). My wife, four children, and I were excited to have met Jason and Mark, band members of Downhere, this past Saturday night at Sounds of Sumatanga and are just blown away at how this Christian rock band “gets it.” They are all about the glory of God and not themselves (I Cor. 10:31)! Their lyrics are solidly biblical and these guys are sound theologians. Most people do not realize how biblical their words truly are!

My favorite song in Sumatanga was “Here I Am” – a reference to Isaiah 6 and how Isaiah was commissioned by the Lord. Jason told the crowd to make this their prayer and I was thinking the exact same thing for myself when he said it. “Here I Am, Lord, send me” even in my inadequacies, to do Your will. God uses willing vessels like you and I to do His holy will no matter how foolish and weak we are because people like us demonstrate that it is the only the power of God that any of us can accomplish anything of value.

If you like contemporary Christian music that makes you think about Christ, you will love these guys from Canada who now live in Nashville. Please pray for these guys to be encouraged as they travel and teach others to worship the Lord in spirit and truth (John 4:24). It’s tough to be a band that expresses the Gospel accurately in today’s world of watered-down Christianity but these guys do not compromise the Word of God. We are so thankful for their ministry!

-Mark (really grateful to have spent some time talking to these humble and wonderfully gifted men who are seeking to glorify Jesus)