There is no auto-correct on God's iPhone.  He doesn't need the "delete" key on His PC.  This is because in every task, be it ruling the universe or the next phase in your career, God has a laser-sharp perspicuity on how His would execute His plans.  And to transport the front man of alternative rock band Thrice Dustin Kenrue to cut his first worship record "The Water and the Blood" is freighted with wisdom.  Often by default worship leaders have adopted the standard fare anthemic pop template utilized by Darlene Zschech, Hillsong, Matt Redman and Martin Smith.  As a result, many a times worship music has isolated worshippers whose taste of music don't exactly fit the cookie cutter mold stultifying adopted by these worship leaders.  Thus, this is where Kensrue's latest effort feeds the lacuna.  Coming from a hardcore rock base where Kensrue fronted Thrice over 8 albums and over a time span of 14 years, Kensrue approaches worship music with much needed freshness.  Precisely because he has entered worship music via a different door, the songs on "The Water and the Blood" avoid all the standard clichés of many worship songs.  And Kensrue has deliberately alienated himself those predictable hooks many worship albums have plagiarized from Hillsong Live or Matt Redman.  Rather, what we have here are 11 songs that sound revived, vital and invigorated.

During his hiatus from Thrice, Kensrue currently serves as worship pastor leading weekly worship at Mars Hill Church Bellevue.  Together with other worship pastors of the same parent church Mars Hill, they have worked out a deal with BEC Recording/Mars Hill Music to release a series of records.  Following the recent releases of Citizens and Ghost Ship, Kensrue's "The Water and the Blood" is the third installment.  The titular "The Water and the Blood" (a line taken from the song "Rock of Ages") is most telling.  According to Kensrue, they are the two themes that run right across the record.  First, the theme of the forgiveness Christ offered on the Cross via the shedding of his blood.  And, second, the theme of Jesus as the eternal water who quenches all our thirst.  Both themes beautifully converge on the album opener "Rejoice."  Starting off with crunchy guitars and a stately bass line, Kensrue bursts off with full adrenaline by the time the chorus hits.  "Rejoice" is celebratory of the atonement we have received gorgeously captured by Kensrue's expressive tenor. 

Just like his label mate Ghost Ship who had cut a re-imaged version of the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy," here Kensrue's choice is "Rock of Ages."  Writing a new tune while still utilizing most of the lyrics of this ancient classic, Kensrue brings new life to this liturgical post-rock piece.  "Suffering Servant" serves notice as to how fine a songwriter Kensrue is.  While many a lesser composer would have boycotted the theological density of what the blood of Christ actually does on our behalf, Kensrue delves right into the mire.  With erudition yet with a heartfelt lucidity that even the unschooled can understand, "Suffering Servant" is one of the best theological treatise on the Cross set to music.  In our self-made world where most salary bonuses are based on our performances, "It's Not Enough" is so liberating to listen to.  For in God's economy, the very fact that God loves us has nothing to do with our sales figures or GPA or waist size.  Rather, we are loved simply by God's unmerited grace. The line "I could walk the world forever 'till my shoes were filled with blood. It's not enough. It's not enough" is just spine chilling.

As far as creativity goes, Kensrue deserves every point of excellence.  "The Voice of God" is a track that calls to mind Psalm 29 where the Psalmist litanies how powerful God's voice is over creation.  However, when listening to this song one gets the feeling that Kensrue's vocals have been recorded in an empty hall with the reverbs of his voice glowing and fading throughout the song.  This brilliantly brings out the miraculous drama of God's utterances that Psalm 29 speaks about.  On the other hand, "It is Finished" aptly closes the album.  This song finds Kensrue in his electrifying rock n' roll best where the album double themes are celebrated via a party of a screeching guitars' fest.  Adventurous in its execution, faithful in its allegiance to God's word, and genuinely animated as far as worship goes, "The Water and the Blood" is indeed a gem.