The Project
The Christ Campaign project was created for God’s pleasure and your edification. Click on the links below to read how the songs were created, listen to the trax, or download the lyrics.

Lift Those Hands
It's Not About
Brand New Creature
Lift Him Up
More Than Many Sparrows
The Shepherd's Voice
Come (The Shepherd's Response)
American Christianity
I Know My Savior Lives
Deeper
Calvary
You Came and Made the Difference
I Long For You
All Things Work Together For the Good

Lift Those Hands     (listen)
The Motivation
I wanted to write something that was simple, biblical and energetic. “Lift Those Hands” emerged from simply fiddling with a couple of chords and rhythms. The theme of the tune has always kind of reminded me of the musical arrangement of the Jackson Five’s “ABC” (bum, bum, bum, bum, bum bum!). I have always loved the Jackson Five and especially the way that the Motown Sound always seemed to capture an overall attitude and vibe. When I was a kid, I probably listened to “ABC”, “I Want You Back” and “Stop the Love you Save” 100s of times on my family’s living room record player (yes, I am old enough to know all about records).  

“Lift Those Hands” is meant to encourage an attitude of celebration, worship and fun (yes, I said “fun”). What could be more “fun” than worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoying His presence?

When the tune was nothing more than a reference track with skeleton vocals and programmed drums, I submitted it to Marvin Sapp for his Diary of a Psalmist project. Marvin loved it and placed it on the album. The producers on Marvin’s project made a few chordal and arrangement changes to the tune; the version found on The Christ Campaign is the original version of the tune.

Lyrics
“He made us a little lower than the angels!” I love the implications of this verse — more specifically, its allusion to Jesus Christ the Son of Man who took a place in His own creation, lesser in glory and power to angels. He became our brother and we have become His children. "Lift Those Hands" will always be an enjoyable, fun song to sing and experience in worship.
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It's Not About     (listen)
History of the Tune
So what exactly is it about? This is the only track on Joshua’s original EP The Demonstration released in 1999 to make it to The Christ Campaign project. The first version of the track was arranged slightly differently. Tyisha Williams (a former member of Joshua Jeneration) sang the lead on the song and the track’s outtro featured a key-change and a totally different lyrical groove.

Although I really liked the previous version, I wanted to make this version a bit more simple and direct. Melody Betts covers the lead on The Christ Campaign version of “It’s Not About” and we added more live guitar and bass parts to make the song sound a bit more organic. Also, the trombone patches were a new arrangement touch as well. Whereas the original version of the song had a string/pizzicato arrangement, this version of the song begins with Scott Tallarida’s acoustic guitar performance.

To be or not to be on the project
I debated whether or not both this song and "American Christianity" should be on the same project — you can see the result of my personal dialogue. The topic of this tune was reinforced during a recent missionary trip my wife and I made to India.

The whole focus of the Christian life is actually loving others more than we love ourselves . . . I would ask, what evidence do you see of this in current Christianity in America? I struggle with this concept and my own disobedience to Christ in this area. I know there are things that I should give up for Christ and for the good of others, but often I find myself choosing myself. I hope you can hear my own struggle to direct the focus of my faith off of myself and onto The Lord Jesus Christ, His will and the needs of others! It is not about you and me, but this is a message that is rarely heard in North American Christianity.

Performances
Kevin Spears hooked up the bass track on this tune. He has been playing with Joshua the past couple of years. The dude listens so well to tracks — He took a track that was basically a loop and approached it with a bunch of flavor.

Kev and the rest of the brothers that play with Joshua (Mark Wright, Ed Gosa, Brandon Smith) are an honor to play with. The brothers Love Jesus and enjoy playing for Him — this comes through both live and in the studio.

I enjoy listening to Melody Bett’s performance on this track as well. She is a special talent — if any of you have the opportunity to see Joshua Jeneration live, you will enjoy Melody’s live performance of “It’s Not About” — her energy and passion for the Lord are amplified live.
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Brand New Creature     (listen)
The Motivation
There are so many things we have all done and are embarrassed about. I am sad to say that many of the things I am most embarrassed about in my own walk happened after I accepted Christ. "Brand New Creature" is a response to the critical, accusatory talk that comes from our own guilty conscience, unbelievers, Satan and carnal Christians.

Let’s be honest though, we normally expect to be dogged by unbelievers and Satan, but we are often caught off guard when carnal Christians use our past or current sins as a means of breaking us down and crushing our spirit. God hates sin, but surely He did not save us to simply remind us of how horrible we are for an eternity. I know where I’ve been and I know who I am – Thank God, I know that my tomorrow is alive in the Hands of Christ.

Performances
This song was written from a drum-track perspective. In other, words, the drums drove the musical track. The track is meant to be aggressive, decisive and confident. Scott Tallarida performs a tasty, rock-flavored guitar solo over the outtro. The result is a sound somewhere in between R&B, Hip Hop and Rock. This is probably my wife’s favorite track — all through mix-down she got her bounce on.

Flows
Perhaps what I am most happy with are the performances of Mother Love and J-break. While they differ in style of delivery, each of these female rappers gives you edge and lyrical content that brings the track to a new level.

Mother Love is a poet and artist who attends my home church. I gave her a copy of the track and she met me the next day in church with the entire rhyme. She is one of the most down-to-earth “real” artists you will ever meet. One interesting sidebar is that Mother Love is also an accomplished Opera Singer who has performed throughout the U.S. and Italy. Would you think the rapper on that track was an opera singer?

I met J-break at Chicago’s “The House” Hip-Hop Church. The House is the Brainchild of Pastor Phil Jackson — he provides a place young people can develop leadership skills in the church and express their love for Christ in a Hip Hop format. Lots of rappers hone their skills at The House and have an opportunity to lead Hip Hop worship with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

A native of New Mexico, J-break was serving in Chicago during a mission project when we met. I have always thought J-break’s lyrical talent was so smooth and well-thought out. She has the unique skill to share a rhyme in a flowing, yet doctrinally sound manner. I especially like the line, “I can’t contain my praise to the Ancient of Days” — smooth, yet doctrinally sound and Christocentric to the core.
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Lift Him Up     (listen)
History of the Song
Joshua Jeneration performed “Lift Him Up” at the first concert we ever did back in 1996. The group has changed a lot since then (new members, new songs), but in many ways, the focus of the group has not changed. "Lift Him Up" does much to demonstrate the focus of this Ministry. The focus on the deity and person of the Lord Jesus Christ should be extremely Literal. “You are the Son of the Most High God, Immanuel, Prince of Peace, You’re the Lord the Great YHWH, El Shaddai, to you we sing.” In the same Line we attempt to Highlight the nature of the Trinity (Son of the most High God), incarnation (Immanuel), Messiahship (Prince of Peace), Dominion (Lord), Deity (Yahweh), and Provision (El shaddai) of our Lord.

The focus of this ministry has always been to be unashamedly about Jesus alone. The message here does much to elevate and demonstrate the the centrality of our Lord — in our hearts and in the universe.

Performances
I hope you enjoy the lead vocal performed by my sister (my actual sister by birth), Michelle Holt. I think she had an awesome performance. Michelle’s voice also has so much purity and integrity. This is Michelle’s first lead on a recording, but she has always had a naturally polished talent as a vocalist.
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More Than Many Sparrows     (listen)
This track almost did not make this project (forreal tho') for many reasons. First of all, I just had so many problems completing the lead vocal and was never satisfied with it. Second, I knew I wanted Lamar Jones to perform the bass track, but he was on tour with Fred Hammond when we initially wanted to record the track. I loved the message, the track and the background vocals, but actually was never fully satisfied with my lead vocal performance — I liked it the more I was able to step away from the track.

It is difficult to place a song out there that is based on so much personal experience and “More than Many Sparrows” is one of those songs. It was written from a time of personal challenges — a time that just felt like ”is this what my life is going to be like?”

I am sure you have all had times when you were confused about your life. When I wrote "Sparrows," I was kind of thinking that many of the things I wanted in my life were going to turn out different than I personally expected them to turn out. But the message of the song is re-focusing us on the person of Christ, remembering that He has an expected end for each believer — He called me, He knows me and He loves me. When it is all said and done, Jesus’ end is always better than our own personal desires.

Strangely enough, now I am extremely happy with the way this track came out. The song and lyrical content meant so much to me, I am pleased with the final product. It was meant to convey the care of Jesus for His children.

Performances
Musically, I just love listening to the performance of Lamar Jones on bass. His performance demonstrates such a unique perspective on melody, harmony and rhythm. Lamar has a distinct way of complimenting the lead and background vocal tracks.

My close friend Scott Tallarida puts his special flavor on the guitar track. Scott is the leader of a Rock Group called Exo. Their sound is edgy, aggressive and artistic. Exo’s melodic content reminds me a bit of the Beatles in some ways, but my exposure to Rock is somewhat limited.

Scott is an amazing writer and producer. I am sure you can hear his ear for melody, comping and harmony in all of his performance on The Christ Campaign, especially “More Than Many Sparrows” and “Brand New Creature.”

Scott and I have been close friends all the way back to college when we worked together in an R&B group called “The Groove”. We have been friends ever since and I recorded 99% of The Christ Campaign at Scott’s Studio Binge.

Sparrows
We have probably received the most positive feedback about this song. It just seemed to hit so many people at the right time. It is a song meant to encourage folks to get through difficult times. Jesus allowed this to happen to me, but He is the one who called me . . . so I know He is able to deliver and take care of me.

Sparrows are so small, plentiful and in many ways insignificant — yet the Lord cares for each of them fully. We are worth "More than Many Sparrows." This is an awesome thought!
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The Shepherd's Voice     (listen)
Performances
This tune has so many different applications. I can listen to this song now and it means more than it did when I first wrote it. I am also so glad that my cousin Erica Glenn was able to give her performance on the track. I think the message of the tune even connected with things Erica was going through at the time. Erica has an amazing voice and is an extremely talented vocalist. Her voice is filled with so much honesty and experience.

Voices
It is so easy to just make up “voices” in our own minds that we decide are the will of God. The heart is deceitful and it is always easy to decide that God is saying things to our heart that He is not actually saying at all — fooling ourselves is easy!

I know that I have thought I heard the Voice of the Lord before, only to later realize that it was my own flesh. However, Christian’s should always test their own inclination with Scriptures. God will never violate His own Word. By denying His Word He would actually be denying His own Son (for Jesus is the Word incarnate — but this is a longer conversation, maybe for another time).

I hope that when people hear "The Shepherd’s Voice" they can hear my desire to direct people to the voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, especially through the Word of God (Scripture alone). "The Shepherd’s Voice" is about being honest with ourselves when we need wisdom and direction. Lean not on your own understanding!
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Come (The Shepherd's Response)     (listen)
Even when we listen to ourselves instead of Christ, Jesus is able to restore us. He is able to draw us near to Himself even after we have willfully chosen to disobey Him. He still calls us even when we have been disobedient — even when we have demonstrated that we don't love Him as deeply as we thought we did.

My wife’s favorite line in the song is “When there are chains that bind, prisons inside your mind, I’m the key, I will be all you need to be free.” Jesus is the key to our deliverance and He is even able to deliver us from ourselves.

Recording “Come”
We had a quiet time while recording this song. With the recording of “I Long For You” and “Come,” those in the studio found themselves somewhat overwhelmed by the mood and the message of the songs. We recorded “Come” on a Saturday in about 3 hours (that’s great in studio time), but everyone was so focused on the track, the message, and our Lord.
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American Christianity     (listen)
The Motivation
People who know me understand how much my recent trip to India impacted my life. After months of discussions and persuasion, my wife and our close friend Pastor Timothy Metcalf convinced me to take a missionary trip to Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India in late 2004. The thing is, there is so much about Christianity abroad that you never see in the U.S. and Europe.

First of all, the level of sincerity is so high, especially in countries like India. Those who go to church and believe have done so under much scrutiny and persecution. As a result, most of the fakers are weeded out.

Secondly, the believers I met in India demonstrated so much love and fellowship toward one another. We spent so much time together, so much time talking about Christ. The fellowship was constant, on-going and much more authentic than I have experienced in the U.S.

Lastly, there is less focus on selfish interests, especially money. We spent time with brothers and sisters who virtually lived in shacks, without cars, without meat, in small quarters — the poverty was brutal. But contrary to most American Christians, they were so satisfied and content in Christ alone. I was humbled and often embarrassed.

Actually, "American Christianity" was written before I visited India, but the trip merely confirmed my opinions of the American “version” of the Faith. Americans are so self-centered. We have compromised the true message of the Gospel. The message of the Gospel is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. How many Americans seek to be “crucified with Christ” or to “take up their cross daily” or even to give to the poor and all who are in need?

We have become a nation of selfish, financially-focused, entertainment-driven, carnal believers. In fact, selfishness is so pervasive, I am convinced there are many in churches in America who have never heard the true gospel.

Flow
I was pumped after recording the flow by Triomnius. I think he expressed exactly what I was trying to say in this song. I especially love the line “Instead of listening to the Prophet, all they wanna hear is Profit.” Can this be more true in American Christianity?

Live
I love to do this song live! I can see the response of people as we sing — especially the lines “Give me, bless me, enlarge my territory . . . name it, claim it, reach up, grab it.” This is what we have become and I hate that this “material theology” has negatively impacted my own walk with the Savior.

Lord make us more like you — selfless, humble, caring, giving. Lord teach us to trade more of the world and gain our souls. Amen.

$10 lines, $20 lines
Many folks who do not have experience in some traditional Black churches may be confused by this song’s introduction. In some churches there is a common practice of ministers asking their congregants to identify the amount of money they will give during an offering time. The common appeal goes something like this: “Are there any willing to give $100 dollars? Are there any willing to give $50? What about 20 dollars?” This practice of appealing for gifts through public pressure is somewhat common in many churches (especially Black churches). It is is this practice that I believe is unscriptural and should be stopped.
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I Know My Savior Lives     (listen)
The Motivation
There was a saying in the first and second centuries that Christians would recite to one another: “He is risen” (to boldly proclaim the hope of the gospel). ”He is risen indeed!” (a confident affirmation of this truth). If Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain. There is nothing else to live for, except to eat, drink and be merry. If Christ is not risen, we are most miserable because we have made God to be a liar.

But Christ is risen. There is nothing more confirming, hopeful or wonderful to know. For to know that He has risen means that Jesus has power over death, that we too will rise, and that Jesus’ words and life are confirmed as the Truth.

The Full-Gospel in 8-bars
By the way, the Full Gospel is not about spiritual gifts, speaking in tongues, deliverance or healing. The Gospel is this:

• Jesus is God in the Flesh who was born as a man;

• Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures;

• Jesus rose from the dead in the Body on the third day and was seen by many witnesses; and

• Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of the World and will return to reign and rule the earth from Jerusalem.

I tried to capsulate the entire Gospel in the bridge of this song. In 8 bars of music you will find the death, resurrection, Messiahship and deity of our Lord Jesus. By believing in this, we are saved! He is Risen indeed!
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Deeper     (listen)
The Motivation
Christ is so amazing! There are so many things about Him that are difficult to understand or explain, but the truth about Him is overwhelming. Do you ever just sit and think about how wonderful He is? How grateful you are to Him? How giving He was and is to us?

The Performances
“Deeper” is meant to be a contemplative look at the love of Christ — an opportunity to reflect on His greatness. Melody Betts spreads her musical wings on this track. Also, Bassist Lamar Jones provides a smoothed out, tasty sound.

Second Thoughts?
This is a track that I had doubts about releasing. Will people think it is a love song? Will they think it is speaking of love between a man and a woman?

Well, it is a love song, but the object of that love is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The more we know of Him, the deeper we understand the breadth of His Love. “Deeper” is best experienced after the scripture reading by Leslie Bailey on the pre-track, “Our Prayer for You.” It is our prayer for you that you would explore the depth, height and width of the love of our Lord Jesus.
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Calvary (listen) and You Came and Made the Difference     (listen)
The Motivation
The movie the “Passion of the Christ” put the gruesome reality of Jesus’ crucifixion on center stage. I wrote “Calvary” to do the same thing.

There are four song couplets on The Christ Campaign: "He died for all"/"Brand New Creature", "Shepherd’s Voice"/"Come", "Our Prayer for You"/"Deeper", "Calvary"/"You Came and Made the Difference".

“Calvary” and “You Came and Made the Difference” were written together and were meant to be listened to together. "Calvary" is an ode to the decision of Christ to come, bleed and die for humanity. “Whose mind could contemplate that the King would be crucified?” Jesus’ decision and obedience to go to the cross can never be underestimated.

“Calvary” is meant to be an objective look at the bloody sacrifice of our savior. In contrast, “You Came and Made the Difference” is a subjective, emotional look at the impact of the crucifixion emotionally, spiritually and eternally on the elect.

The Recording Process
The recording of "Calvary" was extremely personal. I remember having a hard time getting the vocals right (I am still not sure I ever did), but I can say that singing that song was an emotional experience for me.

Whether in the studio or live, “You Came and Made the Difference” has always been an emotional song for Joshua to perform — we love singing it, but often the tears are flowing before the end of the song.

“Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachtani”
We have gotten a lot of comments about this line. I thought it would be interesting to place the actual Aramaic statement of Christ from the cross. In fact, I have often wondered why the writer mentions that Jesus said this in Aramaic. I thought that Jesus normally used Aramaic, so why does the writer emphasize this statement? I don’t know the answer to this question, but I do know that when I think of the actual words of our Lord from the cross in His native tongue, I feel more connected with His anguish.

Can you imagine the physical, emotional and spiritual pain He was experiencing? I am convinced that this pain and despair is beyond what any of us can even imagine. I wanted “You Came and Made the Difference” to really take us to the place of the crucifixion, to really focus on our Lord’s pain. We serve such a humble savior.
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I Long For You     (listen)
The Motivation
“I Long For You” was not written until around 1997, but the concept behind the song was completed back in the early '90s. This song began in the dream and imagination worlds. I actually had a dream once that included my arrival in Heaven. It was so overwhelming, that when I woke up I was actually a bit disappointed that I wasn’t dead. Think about it for awhile — think what it will be like to actually meet the Lord face to face.

In my dream I had the feeling of being fully known, fully understood and fulfilled for the first time ever. I imagine that actually meeting Jesus will be so much greater than my dream. It is this actual meeting that I long for. To be in His presence, enjoy His company, worship His person, speak with Him, sit at his feet and ask Him questions, tell Him how much I love and appreciate Him and what He has done — I can’t wait! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a death wish, but I do want to mentally and spiritually be able to demonstrate ”for me to live is Christ and to die is Gain.”

Recording
I remember the sessions when we recorded “I Long for You.” There were several times during the session when we completed a take and things were very quiet in the studio. When we completed the track, I remember sitting in the studio and everyone just being quiet. For those of you who have been in a studio during playback, you know that most of the time people are listening to and critiquing their performances. However, after we finished this time in the studio, many people were just listening, experiencing the song and thinking about Jesus.
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All Things Work Together For the Good     (listen)
This song has come to mean so much within Joshua Jeneration. As a group, our members have experienced marriage, children, divorce, sickness, physical need, hardship, persecutions — everything you can imagine. Some is the result of our own sin, but much of it is simply the day-to-day experience of life in a sick world.

However, we have confidence that "All Things Work Together for the Good." “No matter the emergency”, for Christ our problems are expected trials that He uses to bring about maturity in our lives.

This is one of the only songs ("More than Many Sparrows" is another) that is written from the perspective of encouragement. Much of the album focuses, worship, doctrine and the person of Christ. This song has been especially encouraging to Joshua Jeneration and we hope you, too, are encouraged by the song, its lyrics and presentation.
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