"Shatter The Dark"
"Lighthouse"
"Begin Again"
Written by Anthony Bianchini
© 2008 Anthony Bianchini - All Rights Reserved
Last year, we had a series of offerings that featured a number
of talented singers we've had the privilege of working with over
the years. This month, we're pleased to present the music of
Anthony Bianchini. While we've never recorded together (yet),
Anthony was a member of the worship team at our church
for a number of years, also briefly serving as worship leader.
We performed a lot of music together as part of a series of
monthly coffeehouses our church hosted for a few years,
which included a lot of original material. Anthony left Staten
Island a few years ago to attend seminary near Philadelphia,
but the friendship has endured. Anthony's got an amazing
singing voice & a knack for beautiful melodies with poignant
lyrics to match.
It is a privilege to share his music with you.
During our time together in the "Salem Outreach (Coffeehouse) Band" & on the worship team, one of the songs that Anthony brought to the table that we all took a real shine to was "Shatter the Dark". When played live, Anthony handled the vocals & keys & I played bass... On all of these recordings, Anthony is singing & playing everything...
In Anthony's words:
Psalm 68:6 "God sets the lonely in families"
Romans 1:21 "...their foolish hearts were darkened."
Psalm 119:105 "Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path."
In our age, believing lies can bring fragmentation; so can social injustice and inequality, addictions and a host of other evils. Christians are called to move toward hurting, lonely people in love. And this does not just mean someone living alone -- relational brokenness sadly even makes some marriages & families very lonely, dark places.
We are called to bring the light of God's truth to people with word *and* deed. God's word brings light & dispels, shatters, lies & darkness, but often really invades people's hearts when coupled with genuine sacrificial, consistent loving care... a daunting task, but gloriously possible when empowered by God's Holy Spirit.
Down here people don't want to hear about lies
Don't want to hear about truth
Don't want to hear about You, no...
Down here people don't want to hear about time
Or an eternal thing about a broken wing
Send me unto the lonely,
I'll go, the one and only remedy
Give me the words to shatter the darkness
One heart that overflows with pure love,
can make a dying garden grow
Give me the words to shatter the darkness
Down here people don't want to hear about lies
Don't want to hear about truth
Don't want to hear about You, no...
Down here people just want to serve the great god I
So let me pour the salt of Your love
on all of the wounds and open the blinded eyes....
Send me unto the lonely,
I'll go, the one and only remedy
Give me the words to shatter the darkness
One heart that overflows with pure love,
can make a dying garden grow
Give me the words to shatter the dark with...
LOVE!!
Your word promises to take me through the storm
You won't deny me Your grace is gonna take me home...
Send me unto the lonely,
I'll go, the one and only remedy
Give me the words to shatter the darkness
One heart that overflows with pure love,
can make a dying garden grow
Give me the words to shatter the dark with LOVE!
Every day new songs to sing
and your sweet love means everything,
(Give me the words to say)
(Give me a song to sing)
Every day we praise your name
and your sweet love won't ever change.
Your love doesn't change...
When I asked Anthony if I could share "Shatter The Dark" as a monthly offering, he sent along a number of songs he's been working on recently. I thought a couple of them were special & just had to be shared. Up next is "Lighthouse"...
In Anthony's words:
Mark 4:39 says "...and He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, 'Peace, be still'. And the wind ceased, and there was great calm."
The sea is large, powerful and foreboding. It can swallow up even the most well built ship or the most experienced sailor. But our scripture shows us it or no other force of nature is no match for a single command of Our Lord Jesus, Who is Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer of all. Even in the most seemingly hopeless and chaotic storms of life, wait for His still, small voice and keep your eyes on His light until the storm abates. All storms will cease one day for the believer!
Getting what you want sometimes is overrated
We should know by now, we should know by now...
Wanting what you've got will never leave you jaded
You should know by now, you should know by now...
See the lilies clothed in their splendor,
compared to them we're so much more cared for
When I swim on a sea of doubt, I see the shore
There's a Lighthouse shining far beyond these waves that roll
Tattered sales on a battered ship that is trying to steer
through the stormy tempest, peace and rest will soon be here
If I had the world wrapped up inside my tiny hands,
it wouldn't fill the place I long to be known
and You were shown all kingdoms still,
You shoved that serpent to the dust;
Why do I fail to trust?
See the lilies clothed in their splendor,
compared to them we're so much more cared for
When I swim on a sea of doubt, I see the shore
There's a Lighthouse shining far beyond these waves that roll
Tattered sales on a battered ship that is trying to steer
through the stormy tempest, peace and rest will soon be here
and ooh the horizon is coming clear
as You whisper the words I need to hear
as You whisper child do not fear
Up next is "Begin Again"...
In Anthony's words:
2nd Cor 5:17 says "If anyone is in Christ he or she is a new creation".
The Gospel is all about new beginnings. It is about one big new beginning when we come to Him in faith and are born again, and lots of little new beginnings when we are picked up by the gracious Lord after we fail or after life's circumstances grind us down, for "His mercies are new every morning" Lam 3.23.
This song was actually written for a department I worked in at my job that helped people with mental illness struggles to begin rebuilding their lives. Our society tends to treat with disdain things they don't understand or are afraid of - or devalue people if they aren't productive, successful or beautiful. That is why Psalm 139 is in the bridge, reminding the listener that every human being is wonderfully made in God's own image with utmost care, and has inherent dignity and value regardless of anything else.
Counting the lines on my face,
not one of them is out of place, and I begin again...
Counting the lines on my feet,
Ten thousand dead end streets, under my heels...
And I am holding on
until the dawn light breaks upon
the very life I live
I know it won't be long
before a flower grows here,
I've decided to reach out...
Counting the lines on my heart,
they might be lines, they might be scars...
What do my scars have to say?
They say I'm here today and I'm here to stay
That's why I'm holding on
until the dawn light breaks upon
the very life I live
I know it won't be long
before a flower grows here,
And I've decided to reach out... to reach out...
reach out forward...
I was made fearfully, wonderfully
I was made humanity, dignity,
belong to me, I was made...
Counting the lines on the page,
This life has sure been strange,
wouldn't you say?
But I'm still holding on
until the dawn light breaks upon
the very life I live
I know it won't be long
before a flower grows here,
I've decided to reach out... to reach out...
reach out for Your hand... for Your hand...
EJ, Jonny K(bass), Espen, James M(drums), AB, & Russel F(Gtr)
Anthony was born in Queens, NY and was captivated by music from a young age. This led to a 'pigpen prodigal son' experience in New Orleans, LA as a young man chasing musical fame. The Lord began redeeming that love of music then and Anthony has been building songwriting chops as well as periodically performing and being part of worship teams as well. God has given him a heart for the weak and a career helping those with mental and physical struggles. Anthony has an MAR in Biblical Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and is interested in the expression of a biblical worldview over all of life, including the cultural mediums of music and film. He currently resides near Philadelphia, PA.
Thank you & God bless!
& Anthony Bianchini
To download the music, RIGHT CLICK and choose "Save Target As":
"Shatter The Dark" MUSIC 3:57
"Lighthouse" MUSIC 3:55
"Begin Again" MUSIC 3:40
To download the lyrics, RIGHT CLICK: and choose "Save Target As":
"Shatter The Dark" LYRICS
"Lighthouse" LYRICS
"Begin Again" LYRICS