My friend/brother-in-law Brian works with artists who use their voice to speak for Compassion‘s children. He goes to a lot of concerts, hears a lot of songs. Oddly, he’s not that into music. But he’s into good people, and an excellent judge of that sort of thing even if he does call me friend.
Brian’s not supposed to have favorites. And he’d never say he likes this guy more than that one but I’ve known Brian for seventeen years, I know what his face looks like when he’s found something, met someone, he really thinks is special. His face says he likes John Mark McMillan like that.
So I checked him out. And now I do too.
There’s just something transcendent about his music. Especially the words. He says what we want to say to God. But he does it by stripping away the well-worn phrases of our faith, all cliche, all pomp and posturing, and just, well, he just says it. At once poetic and conversational, artistic and accessible.
Brian’s face is right. John Mark is pretty special. Soon to be a favorite of yours too.
Jessica says:
Ugh, <3!
Have so reposted this on some Facebook.
Emery says:
I love his music too.
Christina Egner says:
You had me at Hello.
Emily says:
How I love this song- and now the story behind it. Thanks for posting this!
Michelle says:
I think I need this song….
Rachel says:
Love that song. They play it on my radio station here ๐ Cool to see the back story…isn’t that what you were just saying an artist needs?
Carolyn says:
Have loved listening to and singing this song for a year now. Didn’t think I could love it more…but now i do and I love John Mark McMillan, too. I wonder if he ever just gets random bear hugs or if that would freak him out…he’s gonna get one from me if our life’s paths cross. Thank for sharing!
keith says:
He became one of my favorites early last year when I got a hold of his latest project “The Medicine” that was independently released in 2008 but soon to be rereleased on a label. That set of songs is deeply satisfying for me. I also like how he strips away the well-worn phrases. I just hope his new marriage to a label doesn’t change that.
keith says:
And this showed up just below your post in my Google reader, maybe my favorite song of his.
michelle says:
this is one of my favorite songs we sing at church. of course for some reason they change the “wet sloppy kiss” line. alas, it is still good. thank you for sharing the story behind it – makes me like it that much more.
Ryan Detzel says:
I’ve sang that song to my little girl at bedtime for more than a year now. It’s beautiful to hear a 3 year old know all the words. She loves the sloppy wet kiss part. This song will be on our church worship CD that comes out next month too. It’s in our rotation at least once a month.
Nellie Dee says:
Thanks for sharing the story behind this song which has been made popular by David Crowder Band. It’s always amazing at how the most powerful stuff comes out of our pain. I’m so glad He Loves Us.
Heather A. says:
Wouldn’t you love to be there praising with that group in the video?!?! There are days when I have Skeleton Bones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYESNOPpXV4 on repeat. Love it.
Angie Raess says:
I’ve heard the David Crowder version, one by Kim Walker and many local church versions including my own…. but there’s something incredible about John Mark’s video and his raw and honest emotion. This is currently my favorite worship song! I love that its removed from all the Christian fluff and cliches… and is just honest.
misty says:
I became a fan of John Mark McMillan quite a while ago when I stumbled across his story of ‘How He Loves’ and fell in love with the song. Now I have Kim Walker’s version and love it also.
He is an amazing artist.
Christy T. says:
I love this song. The first time I listened to it on the latest David Crowder Band CD I was alone on a cool down walk after a jog in San Diego. I can remember laying in the grass at a park, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and listening to this song on repeat, totally moved by the words. Great to have the story behind it, and I’ll have to go check out some more of John Mark McMillan…