Michael Card was born on April 11, 1957 in Madison, TN. His debut album was 1981's FIRST LIGHT. Likely his most famous song is 'El Shaddai'. It's a co-write with John Thompson and was a big hit for Amy Grant. Fast forward to 2013 and Card released the live concert CD entitled A VIOLENT GRACE: MEETING CHRIST AT THE CROSS (Covenant Artists).
Starting things off is the easy listening title track, 'A Violent Grace'. It reflects on Christ's sacrifice for us: "So ruthless He loves us/So reckless His embrace/To show relentless kindness to a hardened human race/The joy that was before Him/On the Man of Sorrows' face/And by His blood He bought a violent grace". 'Only His Wounds Intro' continues the theme: "Only His wounds can heal the broken/Only His wounds can save us from sin". 'Known By the Scars' touches on the resurrection: "And after they had slain Him and laid Him in the grave/And the ones He loved had fled into the dark/Then love and power raised Him/God won the victory/But they only recognized Him by the scars". 'Ride on to Die' is a ballad about Jesus entering Jerusalem: "Oh daughter of Zion/Your time's drawing near/Don't forsake Him/Oh, don't pass it by/On the foal of a donkey/As the prophets had said/Passing by you He rides on to die".
'In the Garden' is a quiet song about Christ in Gethsemane: "Trembling with fear alone in the garden/Battle before the final war/Blood became tears there in the garden/To fall upon the silent stones/There in the darkness the light and the darkness stood still/Two choices, one tortured will/There was the choice had been made/All the world could be saved by the One in the garden". What follows is the beautiful, classic hymn 'O Sacred Head'. It shows gratitude to Christ: "What Thou, my Lord, has suffered was all for sinners' gain/Mine, mine was the transgression/But Thine the deadly pain/Lo, here I fall my Savior!/'Tis I deserve Thy place/Look on me with Thy favor/Vouchsafe to me Thy grace". 'Why' reflects on Judas: "Why did it have to be a friend who chose to betray the Lord?/And why did he use a kiss to show them?/That's not what a kiss is for/Only a friend can betray a friend/A stranger has nothing to gain/And only a friend comes close enough to ever cause such pain".
Next up is 'Death of a Son', an easy listening ballad about Christ on the cross: "Why are You so far from saving me?/So far from the wounds of my groaning?/By night and by day I cry out in pain/So why do You not answer?.../I am a worm and no longer a man/Lama Sabachthani/They have pierced my feet and hands/Lama Sabachthani". 'Tears of the World' calls out to God: "So open my eyes and open my heart/And grant me the gift of Your grieving/And awaken in me the compassion to weep/Just one of the tears of the world". 'Crown Him' has more energy to it and recounts New Testament events: "So a circle of pain and love came down upon His head/It was not for anything He'd done nor for anything He'd said/For all His life He'd sought to show they were only living a lie/But they didn't care to hear or know/They just wanted Him to die".
'This Must Be the Lamb' is a lovely ballad about Calvary: "Like a sheep to the slaughter, so silently still/This must be the Lamb/The poor women weeping at what seemed a great loss/Trembling in fear there at the foot of the cross/Tormented by memories that came like a flood/Unaware that their pardon must be bought with His blood". 'All That Was Lost' proclaims Christ's victory: "He will claim His lost possession/Repossess you, pay the cost/He will purchase you for freedom/He will find all that was lost/So run and tell all those who have longed to hear/The wait is over/The risen Savior's here".
'Love Crucified Arose' is a song of great celebration: "Love crucified arose/The Risen One in splendor/Jehovah, Sole Defender has won the victory/Love crucified arose/And the grave became a place of hope/For the heart that sin and sorrow broke is beating once again". Closing out the concert is 'Only His Wounds Finale'. It's a ballad of spiritual invitation: "The day of the Lord, the promise foretold/The judgment upon us is soon to unfold/But still there is hope, the way has been made/Before us is Jesus, with power to save".
A choir and strings enhance this live concert. It is moving, sincere, and passionate. It is evident that Michael Card is super grateful for Calvary, the atonement, and his salvation. Christ suffered greatly that our sins may be forgiven if we but ask, and that we might have eternal life in heaven. Not only did Christ suffer on the cross, but He also endured agony and betrayal in Gethsemane. Card doesn't end the story here though. He celebrates Jesus' resurrection and victory over sin and death. Satan is the ultimate loser. A VIOLENT GRACE is a great easy listening/folk project with a bit of praise and worship styling included. I'm rating this live project 90%. For more info visit www.michaelcard.com or connect with him on social media.