Rivers: A music podcast

This Advent music podcast features the song "Rivers", written, performed, and recorded by Rob Kwade in his home studio.

Some background on the song, from Rob Kwade:

One of the things I like about Advent

I am very aware that because of my place in history, I perceive the stories of my faith in a certain way. Not only culturally but also chronologically. I am standing at a place, on the banks of a very long and winding river, that is sufficiently downstream from the headwaters that created it. I might know about where that river starts but my understanding of that is colored by the well-developed, well-worn and properly established bank on which I stand. So my understanding of how God tries to have relationship with God’s creation is influenced by a lot of baggage, some good and some bad. Advent, for me, is a time where I can try to strip away some of that and make the journey back to the head waters of the river, to look for the source that started it all.

This song came as I was reading thoughts I had written while in Esztergom (Hungary) while visiting St. Stephan's, on the banks of the mighty Danube River, and Isaiah 7, the story of Ahaz.

God sees the fear in Ahaz and offers up a sign to strengthen his faith, anything between hell and heaven. When he refuses, for whatever reason (fear, stubbornness) God gives him one anyways. A virgin will conceive, she shall call his name Immanuel.

God with us, God with us, God with us. It's always been about God wanting to be with us. From the garden, to the crucifixion, through God climbing the walls of history, wanting to be with us. The source, the headwaters of this great river, whose banks I am standing on started because God wants to be with us. This is one of the things I love about Advent; it reminds me of this.

I also love the chocolate Advent calendars.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Rivers

Three men, three women
Two thieves and one innocent
Two soldiers, one mother
And hearts that never will be the same 

A river of life, a river of life begins

 A worrier saint, a captive state
A sword with one open hand
A hill to stand high, a gate that opens wide
A land that never will be the same 

A river of life, a river of life begins

 A broken faith, a whisper of hope
A sign, ask for anything
This refuge, this singular joy
The Source, that has always been the same

 So the river begins, come and see
Immanuel
Immanuel
God with us now

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