Midnight Quills

Five weeks ago, I was in New Zealand. I had gone over on a work trip, however instead of flying back on the Friday evening, my boss permitted me to stay on over the course of the weekend and fly back on the Sunday afternoon instead. This allowed me to visit Arise Church in Wellington for that Sunday morning. It was a grey, wet and rainy day and the sermon that morning was being given by a guy from the USA by the name of Jeremy Johnson.

Jeremy and his wife, Christy, had been meant to be preaching in another city that morning, but their flight was delayed, and instead, they ended up preaching right there in Wellington, where I was attending for this one opportunity. After hearing Jeremy’s inspiring sermon about our identity in Christ, and who we are in the kingdom, I don’t believe it was an accident that his flight was delayed.

Christy also performed a couple of songs from the Love Riot EP, a five track sample of the forthcoming album that I made sure to purchase after the service.]

We stand, we rise, we give our lives…

This is the opening line to an album that is not for the faint-hearted. This is not an album for complacent Christianity, or an album for people who are happy to live a Sunday-Christian existence. This is an album that inspires, exhorts and grabs the listener out of their seat, challenging them to take a step into a new experience of Christ.

Destroy, the opening track, is a powerful mix of chords that builds that atmosphere from the beginning. It is overlayed with a mini-sermon that tells the listener straight out, what the story is and lays down that challenge.

A smooth transition then runs through to Saviour, a powerful anthem that starts off the journey in just the right place, building a hunger, a desire and a sense of urgency.

From the pop-rock style of songs such as the title track Love Riot and Stir It Up to the epic ballad that is Higher and through to the songs in the ‘Worship’ segment that carry the same level of hunger and desire while bringing the listener into a softer, contemplative and meditative state; Love Riot, the album, is a journey that challenges the listener to step out of their comfort zone.

This is an album that calls a new generation of Christians to arise. Love Riot throws it out there, inspiring people to get into the battle

That first time I heard Jeremy Johnson speak in Wellington, he preached from Matthew 16:13-19.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ~ Matthew 16:18

Ultimately, Love Riot is a call to arms. No longer is it time to sit back, relax and revel in the wondrous experience that is bathing in the spirit of God. Now is the time to take up arms, to storm the gates. They will not overcome.