Casting Crowns: The Altar and the Door

A few years ago I had enough of the depressing and degrading music popular with mainstream music stations and I began seeking out alternative music options. I have always enjoyed uplifting music and have many favorite LDS artists, but I now have many favorite non-LDS artists who create uplifting and worshipful music.

My favorite contemporary Christian group is Casting Crowns. Lead-singer Mark Hall is also a youth pastor and worship leader at Eagles Landing in Atlanta and is a partner in Global Youth Ministry. His fellow band members include Andy Williams, Chris Huffman, Hector Cervantes, Juan DeVevo, Megan Garrettt, and Melodee DeVevo.

Their latest album release is titled The Altar and the Door. The Alter and the Door is Casting Crown's second album. Their first album was Lifesong, released in 2005, which won them numerous awards including the 2005 GMA award for Group of the Year. I own that album as well and highly recommend it to anyone who loves or is interested in looking into contemporary Christian music.

I initially purchased this album after hearing the song "East to West," but I am very pleased with the entire album. My favorite song is actually track 3 on the album titled "Slow Fade." This song really struck a chord with me since it describes something that I see and encounter on a daily basis.

"Slow Fade" builds upon the children's Sunday School song "Be Careful Little Eyes What You See." If you are unfamiliar with this children's song, the first verse is as follows:

Be careful little eyes what you see,

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see,

For the Father up above

Is looking down with love,

So be careful little eyes what you see

"Slow Fade" follows through a series of events that can start as seemingly harmless actions, thoughts, or words that can become much more serious events that can damage and destroy us spiritually. My favorite phrase from the song is, "Be careful little feet where you go, for it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow." As a mother I have to realize the enormous responsibility we are parents have to set the right example for our children so that they can learn to discern right from wrong.

Having the option of listening to music that can inspire and uplift is of huge benefit to those people who are seeking for ways to lighten their load and bring some light into their lives. Music has such an incredible power to affect our thoughts, actions, and emotions that we should always choose carefully that which we listen to, and we should always keep in mind others who might be within hearing range (i.e. little children). When I listen to Casting Crowns and other Christian artists I do not have to worry about what my children might hear.

Songs on The Altar and the Door include:

What This World Needs

Every Man

Slow Fade

East to West

The World is Alive

The Altar and the Door

Somewhere in the Middle

I Know You're There

Prayer For a Friend

All Because of Jesus

There is also a bonus track that can be heard a few minutes after "All Because of Jesus."