Michael W Smith - Awesome God
Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957, to Paul and Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia), often nicknamed "Smitty", is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist.
Since his first solo project in 1983, Smith has become one of the most popular artists in the Contemporary Christian music world, while also finding considerable success in the mainstream.
"Life's not all about the stuff we can accumulate or the honors people heap on us. Serving people in the name of Jesus is what really matters in the world. We have to step into peoples' lives so that they can be changed by God.
But we really have to start believing this is our mission - that this is the authority that is ours as children of God. Simple acts can start to change thousands of peoples' lives.
So I'm taking a stand - and I hope others will - to stand outside of the walls of the church, rubbing shoulders with the lost and to really live what I believe and embrace who I am in Jesus Christ. We are called to share our joy by serving the lost. The poor. The sick. The brokenhearted. The least of these. In Christ, we are given the courage and strength to change the world."[1]
About Awesome God
"Awesome God" was a popular worship song in United States during the late 1980s, composed by Rich Mullins[3] and is one of his most popular compositions. Its title is inspired by a biblical expression (Nehemiah 1:5, Nehemiah 9:32, Psalm 47, Daniel 9:4, etc.), variously translated as "Awesome God", (JPS, in the old-fashioned meaning "awe-inspiring"), "great" (KJV), among other alternatives.
Many Christian bands have performed "cover" versions in various styles, from ska to swing to straight rock and traditional worship style.
Mullins on Awesome God
Mullins did not consider the song to be one of his best. In an interview with The Lighthouse Electronic Magazine in April 1996, he said
"You know, the thing I like about Awesome God is that it's one of the worst-written songs that I ever wrote; it's just poorly crafted. But the thing is that some times, I think, that when you become too conscientious about being a songwriter, the message becomes a vehicle for the medium. This is a temptation that I think all songwriters have. I think a great songwriter is someone who is able to take a very meaningful piece of wisdom - or of folly or whatever - and say it in a way that is most likely to make people respond. But, what you want them to respond to is not how cleverly you did that; what you want them to respond to is your message."
Internet phenomenon
Awesome God has also become something of a cult hit among certain parody groups on the Internet. The repetitive refrain in its lyrics and the 1980s production styling that made it popular in Christian music, combined with its earnest religiosity, have made it attractive to sites and groups that wish to poke fun at fundamentalist Christianity. Reference to it has appeared on White House satire site whitehouse.org as well as many other sites around the Internet.[2]
Modern use of Awesome God
Today many churches sing only the chorus part of this song, either alone or in medleys.
German rapper "Prinz Pi" used samples of "Awesome God" in his song "Die Bomben schlafen" (The bombs sleep). The song is covering the topic of a possible nuclear war with accompanying (ironic) use of the samples "our God is an awesome God" and "He reigns from Heaven above".
-ONE Music: Michael W. Smith
Official Website: michaelwsmith.com
