[Editor's Note: Todd Bragg is the drummer for Caedmons Call.]

I have had the privilege of knowing Dave Owen now for several years and have seen the college ministry that he pastors at Providence Baptist church grow and thrive in many ways.  When I heard that Providence College Ministry was putting out a cd of worship music I couldn’t wait to hear it.  I have attended the college services several times and each time I come away blessed and excited to see the truth of the Gospel being taught in word, song, and deed.  How great it is to see the evidence of this in the form of their new worship cd, Vaunted Pleasures.

There are several old hymns written as far back as the 1400’s that were chosen for this cd and in my opinion were chosen well.  Their rich language paints a beautiful picture of the Gospel and how it rescues us from ourselves.  I love the connection that I feel with hymn writers of old, there is something powerful about a song written so many years ago that can still be so relevant.  I also found the writing in the contemporary songs refreshingly focused on who God is and His characteristics, an essential element that is missing too many times in the modern day songs written as “worship” songs.  Another thing I like about this cd is that the songs communicate a sense of community.  Maybe it’s because these songs reflect the mindset and focus of PCM or maybe it’s because I have visited there and am remembering my experiences or maybe all of the above.  There seems to be a very humble attitude that comes across in these songs, one that says we are a community of believers that is focused on singing the truths of the Gospel and this is the way it sounds when we are together.  I like that.

I love that “Vaunted Pleasures” is the title of this cd of worship songs.  The word “vaunted” means to speak boastfully of, to brag about.  What a great way to describe worship, pleasures that we can speak boastfully about.  Worship means simply to give something worth.  The beautiful thing about the Gospel is that Christ is the ultimate pleasure, and truly the only thing worth boasting about.  The ugly thing is that we don’t believe it, or we forget it and we worship other pleasures that are only a distraction or cheap substitution for the ultimate all-satisfying pleasures of Jesus Christ.  The song “Come Ye Sinners” which was written in 1759 by Joseph Hart speaks of these pleasures, “and in the arms of my dear Savior there are ten thousand charms”.  I am delighted to see a group of brothers and sisters in Christ using their gifts and talents to boast joyfully about Christ through song.  It is evident that much care was taken to give an accurate account of the Gospel and the characteristics of God in this collection of songs.  Whether the lyrics were written recently or 200 years ago, the focus is on Christ and who He is.  This is an important, if not the most important aspect, to look for in music that categorizes itself as worship music.

All in all, I think you will enjoy listening to PCM’s “Vaunted Pleasures”.  It has an inviting feel that welcomes anyone to join together to learn and sing of God’s glory and truth while acknowledging our constant need for the Gospel.

Todd Bragg
Caedmon’s Call