Brian is a strong advocate for worship ministry and strives to share resources as much as possible.  All his own songs he makes available for free (sheet music, chord charts, lyrics, etc).  He also shares chord charts from other songs used in worship.  Just click on the menu bar above where is says “Resources”, or on the buttons below.  Or feel free to contact him with a specific request.

Brian posts regularly at his blog, Monday Morning Music.  He shares what’s going on in his musical life, posts free MP3s, videos, chords, lyrics, and shares spiritual background for songs.  Check out the archives for back issues or do a search for a particular song you might be looking for.  Check this first post with an explanation and video about the blog.

I post lots of videos of unplugged versions of songs or recordings from worship services, conferences, or rehearsals.  Please subscribe to my Youtube video channel and stay informed when I post new stuff.

Search on iTunes for “J Brian Craig” or pick up / download this CD at www.cdbaby.com/jbriancraig.  Hear samples below.

The title is “The Whole World Will Know” and the theme is making world impact in the name of Jesus Christ through his Kingdom on Earth.

Some awesome musicians helped contribute to this  – Peter Wade (drums and vocals), Malcolm Turner (bass), Makoto Otsuka (electric guitar), Todd Gilmore (electric guitar), Jamie WilliamS (sax), John McLellon (electric guitar), Big City (rap), Paulette Spradlin (vocals), Betty Collins (vocals), Tom Cutting (bass), Tori Dozier (bass) and other singers from my local congregation.

Praises Heard Around The World – sample
The Whole World Will Know – sample
Rebuild The City – sample
Rejoice – sample
Everything Is Possible – sample
Here Am I Send Me – sample
The World Needs Love – sample
Salt For Salvation – sample
Every Knee Will Bow – sample
A Faithful Witness – sample
People Helping People – sample
For All Generations – sample
By Faith – sample

Here is the sheet music:    Much More Than Gold – sheet music

Here is a demo a capella recording:    Much More Than Gold – a capella recording

Much More Than Gold
- by Chris Aleshin

If I had a thousand wishes
For a future and a dream,
Couldn’t touch the edge of heaven
With all my imaginings.
All my puddles would be oceans,
And my seed would be a tree.
And my hill would be a mountain and
My God would be with me.

Much more than gold is the love of Jesus.
More than gold His strength and grace.
More than all the riches of this earth
When I see Him face to face.
Much more than gold is the blood of Jesus.
More than gold His strength and grace.
More than all the riches of this earth
When I see Him face to face.

There are times I’m close to you Lord,
And it’s at those times I’m free.
Then my eyes turn to this world and I
Am brought down to my knees.
Satan has his eye upon me
And he bids me to his side.
So I need you to remind me of
The reason Jesus died…

If I saw the land of heaven,
If I felt the hand of God,
If I heard the band of angels as
They sing and they applaud,
When I’m faced with a decision
To do battle with the wrong
As I start to fight with all my might,
They all break out in song…

Verse:
A     /   A      / F#m  / F#m
D     /   A     /    E      /    A
(repeat)

Chorus
D   E   /  A     /   D  E   /  A
D   E   /  F#m /  D  E  /  A
(repeat)

As we look at world evangelism and consider the task ahead of us it is easy to feel so small and insignificant.  Surely the brothers and sisters in the early church must have felt that way at times under the huge shadow of the Roman Empire, the Caesars, the dominance, the worldliness all around them.  Yet as Paul wrote to the Philippian brothers and sisters, telling them to remember Jesus and imitate him he quotes what many consider an early Christian hymn and writes:

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:9-11)

One day everyone WILL know.  One day everyone will see as prayerfully we see now.  That Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, the answer.  John writes:

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
(Revelation 1:7)

We are trying to do what we can to get the word out now about who Jesus is, what it means to be his follower, and the transformation that occurs when we know his grace.  I’m so proud of our international fellowship – even that we have more churches outside the United States than American churches.  Yet there is still so much work to be done!  This song is a prayer for faith, boldness, and determination as we continue to let the whole world know.

EVERY KNEE WILL BOW

The whole world will know
We’ll sing it loud
We give all to crown you now
The whole world will see as
We see you now
one day every knee will bow
one day every knee will bow

O God you make us sing
You’ve giv’n us everything
To you our all we bring
in royal praise
In this dark world we’ll shine
Until the end of time
We’ll tell the world to find
your saving grace
to seek your face…

Since Adam’s ground was cursed
Children of Eve been birthed
The dragon to the earth
in fury hurled
But still you had a way
Your only son you gave
Your kingdom here to save
so loved the world
the whole world…

Now give us strength to tell
Push back the gates of Hell
By your love we are compelled
the gospel preach
Now make us brave and bold
Help us achieve the goal
That one day every soul
your grace will reach
you word we speak…

Chorus:
G      C     G/B     /  amin    D
G      C       /    D    Dsus   D    D/F#
G      C    G/B /     amin      D
G      C     /       D
C (add2)    /      D

Verse:
amin     C    /    D
amin     C    /    D
amin     C   /     D      G
C (add2)    / C     (add2)
amin     C    /    D
amin     C    /    D
amin     C   /     D      G
C (add2)   /     D

I need that.  I need to be reminded that no matter what, anything is possible with God.  I can be negative and/or faithless sometimes.  I can be so aware of my own weaknesses.  I love how after going through all these amazing metaphors and descriptions of the awesome power of God Isaiah 40 closes with this:

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Why do we think God doesn’t see or know what we’re going through? Why do we think he can’t handle our wimpy little situation? Why do we always persist in trying to rely on ourselves instead of on his limitless power? Why do we so often focus on all the reasons “why not” instead of believing that “everything is possible”?

The spot where I pray has a sheer drop off, and there are some trees down below where a few hawks live. Very often when I’m praying I see these birds soaring at about eye level to me (up on my hill) as they are scanning the valley below for prey. As they glide along they seem to move so effortlessly, with just the occasional flap of their wings. I often think about the verse above in these moments — that with God I can “soar on wings like eagles”. Buoyed by his power I can soar at great heights, peacefully and gracefully (not flapping wildly like a pigeon!). I need to be reminded of that often.

Here’s a live recording of a song I wrote a wile back with lyrics based on a few of the great lines from Isaiah 40, “Everything is Possible.”

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Everything is possible
Everything is under your control
All the waters in your hand
I can’t begin to try to understand
Every nation –dust on scales
Nothing in creation can compare
Everything is possible
Everything is possible for you…

You stretch the heavens out
You are the glue
That keeps it all together
All you do
More than we can dream
come true
Everything is possible
Everything is possible for you

Who has understood your mind
Who has known the breadth of
space and time
Every star that looks the same
When it’s born you call each one by name
You sit enthroned above the earth
All its people grasshoppers in dirt
Each of us will fade away, but
Everything is possible for you…

You tend your flock like a shepherd
The lambs in your arms
Carry me close, Lord
To your heart

Everything is possible
Everything is under your control
You give the weary strength to stand
Give your power to the weakest man
We can soar on eagle’s wings
Those who hope in you
renew their strength
Everything is possible
Everything is possible for you…

Verse
E(add2)   /  E(add2)   /  Amaj7   / Amaj7
E(add2)   /  E(add2)   /  Amaj7   / (break)

Chorus
Bsus   /   A(add2)   / Bsus   /   A(add2)
Bsus   /   A(add2)   /   A(add2) /   f#min B

Bridge
C#min  /  C#min  /   A    /   A
F#min  /  F#min  /  Bsus  / B

Here is a recording we made of the song back in 1999.  I’m also posting a back up track I made at the time (Ashley was asked to sing the song for the funeral of a brother who passed away that year).

Here’s a great video of the church in Singapore doing the song!

I’m thirsty and hungry and longing,
But nothing on earth can fulfill.
There’s a place in my heart that is empty,
That only my God can fill.

A stream in the desert when I’m thirsty,
The richest of fare when I’m weak,
Thru’ the darkest of nights
I think only of You.
Oh, Your presence I earnestly seek.

My troubles and foes can surround me.
Then I call on Your name and I stand.
I remember Your power and glory,
And in praise I will lift up my hands.

For I’ve seen You in the sanctuary.
To Your presence my longing soul clings.
I will praise You as long
as I have life to live,
And I’ll sing in the shadow of Your wings.

If I had ev’ry passion and pleasure,
And if ease and success marked my ways,
Well, Your love still would be
so much better than life,
So my lips will keep singing Your praise.

A stream in the desert when I’m thirsty,
The richest of fare when I’m weak,
Thru’ the darkest of nights
I think only of You.
Oh, Your presence I earnestly seek.

A STREAM IN THE DESERT (in E)

Verse
emin / emin / D / bmin D
G D / C / D / E (maj)

Chorus
E A / Bsus B
E A / Bsus B
E A / B c#min
A B / E

I wrote a song for the conference that several asked about, so I thought I’d share it.  Here is a video of the song.  I’ll make a recording of a simpler version too, in case you’d like to use it and don’t have a full band in your congregation.

The song is based on Deuteronomy 6, which was on my mind because I preached a sermon about parenting from that chapter the week before the conference (click here to listen or download).

GENERATION 2 GENERATION
(based on Deuteronomy 6)

Generation to generation
Buildin’ the branches
on our family tree
Generation to generation
Live it to give it
A faithful legacy

Kids and grandkids
must obey the word of God
Then all will go well
in the promised land
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and soul
commit yourself to all
that He commands

Take these words and
teach your children
Talk about them
when you go to bed
and when you wake
Live them in your life
remind your children that
The Lord your God
you never will forsake

Chorus

C    G/B    /   D     Em7
C    G/B    / Am   D   G
C    G/B    /   D     Em7
C    G/B    / Am   D   G

Verse

C       G    /      D     G
(repeating)

We’ve all seen those pictures of the fragile, frail Jesus with long eyelashes. Or the nice blondish guy with blue eyes and a baby sheep in his arms. Who was Jesus, really? Was he a wimp and a softy? Or was he a leader of leaders, challenging the political and religious institutions of his day, turning commonly-held beliefs on end — a historical, gritty figure who forever changed the world as we know it? Join us as we look at another side of Jesus, an edgier side, a side of him you may have never seen…TRUE GRIT.

For our song services we did some some deep and moving songs about Jesus (“Here I Am to Worship,” “Have You Seen Jesus My Lord,” “Glory Be to Jesus,” “We Fall Down,” “In Christ Alone,” and others) but we also did some “grittier” songs about Jesus – “Power,” “Jesus Jesus I Love Thee,” “Victory Chant,” upbeat and rockin versions of “Lord of All” and “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” (we even did the Foo Fighter’s song, “My Hero”). Included in these was an upbeat version of “What Can Wash Away My Sin?” (otherwise known as “Nothing But the Blood”) that my friend Chris Aleshin came up with. Here is a video from our singers’ rehearsal the night we were learning it. (By the way I have a nice mellow arrangement I do of this too. I’ll have to post that another time.)

WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SIN

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow.
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my pardon this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my cleansing, this my plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!