Onefiftythree Praise and Worship Music

Remind Me of the Cross- Background
I have found that there are not many communion related choruses, so this is my attempt at providing a modern song that could be used for that purpose. The idea was to capture the magnitude of Jesus' sacrifice and how we sometimes enter into this sacrament, with our "human condition" kind of overshadowing the act of communion. We can't help it because that's just the way we are: forgiven but frail. When we truly focus on what was done on our behalf, our weaknesses diminish and God is magnified and exalted. You know how it is. You get to the communion part of the service with the distribution of the elements. It's quiet as the bread and wine (ok, for some it's juice) are passed, and maybe there is a piano or other subtle background music. While you patiently wait, praying, you look at your watch and start thinking about the day ahead of you. Let's see...who's making lunch, the lawn really needs to be cut, and there are some great footbal games on today. When that happens, what are we saying to God? I want to have Jesus' crucifixion, and all that it means, to be my only thought, not an afterthought.

Remind Me of the Cross- Inside Information
This song was played for the first time at a rehearsal just prior to the morning service. Although there were several praise team members there, Christi S. and I practiced it as a duet. I was astonished when some of others were brought to tears by the song. I thought that perhaps they just needed more caffein. To my amazement, more tears flowed from the congregation when we sang it in the actual service. Some, however, were not so moved. They insisted that they were in complete control, fully focused and unwaivering in communion. Maybe someday I'll get to that point...how about you?

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?

38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.

40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough!...

27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.

28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,

2 9and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.

30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good,
not even one."