MICHAEL CARD

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Michael Card born (April 11, 1957) is an American Christian singer-songwriter, musician, author, and radio host from Franklin, Tennessee.

He is best known for his contributions in Contemporary Christian Music.

He usually couples folk-style melodies and instrumentation with lyrics that stem from intensive study of the Bible.

Since his debut in 1981, he has sold more than 4 million albums and has written 19 number one singles.

He has also authored several books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner A Sacred Sorrow.

Michael Card was born in Madison, Tennessee as the son of a doctor and grandson of a Baptist minister. He received Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Biblical Studies from Western Kentucky University, and was awarded the university's "Distinguished Alumni Award" in 1997.

His studies in physics and astronomy allowed him to support himself while a student by working for six years at a planetarium. As of 2005, he is working on a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Classical Literature.

Card never intended to be a professional musician. He got his start when his professor and mentor, Dr. William Lane, asked Card to write some music to accompany weekly sermons at their church.

His friend, musician Randy Scruggs, then asked him to record a demo tape so Scruggs could get a job as a producer. The record label agreed to hire Scruggs as long as his first project was to produce an album featuring Card.

Since then Card has released nineteen original albums and at least six compilation albums. Another album, Starkindler, is comprised of Card's interpretations of traditional Celtic hymns.

The compilations often include one or two new songs along with previously released material. With the exception of Starkindler, Card writes the vast majority of the music he records (although sometimes with collaborators).

Many of Card's albums are structured around a unifying theme. For example, the songs from The Beginning are all based on the Pentateuch. The individual songs have subjects such as Genesis, Leviticus, Abraham, Isaac and Moses. Card is particularly adept at relating difficult or obscure concepts from the Old Testament to more understandable themes from the New Testament.

For example, the song "Jubilee" talks about the period of rest and the release from debts and slavery commanded in the Jubilee year as described in Leviticus 25:9ff, but also reveals how the idea culminated in the rest and freedom from condemnation offered through Jesus.

Card's most famous song is "El Shaddai", which was recorded by Amy Grant as well as by Card himself. Grant's recording was named #326 on the RIAA's list of 365 Songs of the Century in 2001. Other popular Card songs include "Immanuel," "Joy in the Journey," and "Heal Our Land." "Heal Our Land" was commissioned as the 1993 National Day of Prayer's theme song.

Despite his success in music, Card has always maintained that his music career is secondary to his calling as a Bible teacher. He has at times distanced himself from the CCM industry by criticizing the promotion of personalities over musical content and the shifting emphasis away from God in order to sell more albums.

One current music project is his writing and mentoring of musicians under the ByFor.org Project.

Michael Card is the author or co-author of sixteen books.

He originally started writing as a way to share the knowledge he accumulated while researching his songs.

His studies were so in-depth that he couldn't condense everything he had learned into one short song.

The books that resulted from album research bear the same titles as the albums.

He then branched out to other subjects not specifically based on his music, such as the Gospel of John, homeschooling, and Christian discipleship and mentoring. As of 2005, he has joined with NavPress to pursue his interest in writing Christian fiction.

In addition to touring and writing, Card also hosts a weekly radio program. In the Studio with Michael Card is carried by stations in 48 states, Canada, and the Caribbean. It is also available via internet streaming audio and as a podcast. The show is an amalgam of talk, musical performances and Bible study.

In 1996, Michael Card caused some concern within his primarily evangelical fan base by co-releasing an album (Brother to Brother) as well as touring with musician John Michael Talbot. Some fans and critics felt betrayed by the collaboration since Card is known for lyrics that scrupulously adhere to Protestant theology whereas Talbot is a Catholic.

On November 14, 2004, Michael Card provided the music for a sermon by Ravi Zacharias at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. In coverage of the event, a Deseret Morning News reporter attributed the following statement to Card:

Still, Card said, he doesn't see Mormonism and evangelical Christianity as opposed to each other. They are more like the two ends of a long thread — part of the same thing.

Since the statement was not a direct quote, some have surmised that Card was misunderstood. The impact of this statement can be understood in the context that many Protestants deny that Mormons are Christians and consider the LDS church a cult.

Card's response to his critics online did not satisfy some since it didn't deny the quote, though the LDS interviewer later admitted to re-wording Card's statement somewhat interpretively.

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	Sleep Sound In Jesus: The Platinum Gift Edition, Compact Disc [CD] By Michael Card / Emi Cmg Distribution
Got twins? Even if you don't, you'll appreciate this lullaby set featuring Sleep Sound in Jesus and its companion CD, Come to the Cradle. Includes "Wordless Ones," "Sleepy Eyes," "Morning Prayer," "Angel by Your Bed," and much more. Two CDs.

	Luke: A World Turned Upside Down CD By Michael-Card / IVP Books
Filled with lyrical melodies and thoughtful text, this companion album to Michael Card's book explores Luke's Gospel through music that will challenge your mind and awaken your soul to the amazing truth and mystery of the incarnation. Includes "A King in a Cattle Trough," "Simeon," "A Little Boy Lost," "A Breath of Prayer," "The Bridge," and "Freedom."

	An Invitation To Awe, 2 CDs By Michael Card / Sparrow Records
Take a musical journey through the Hebrew Scriptures---rekindling your sense of reverence and wonder! Features Card's brand-new song "Malachi"---plus previous favorites including "In the Beginning"; "God Will Provide a Lamb"; "They Called Him Laughter"; "The Way of Wisdom"; "Arise, My Love"; "Then They Will Know"; "Valley of Dry Bones"; and "I Will Bring You Home." Two CDs.

Luke: The Gospel of Amazement By Michael Card / IVP Books

From start to finish, the book of Luke is filled with amazement. Throughout the life and ministry of Jesus, those who met him were astonished by their encounter, from the shepherds at the nativity to the disciples at the empty tomb. With careful attention to detail, Michael Card embarks on an imaginative journey through the Gospel of Luke. He introduces us to Luke the historian and imagines his life as a Gentile, a doctor and a slave. Card explores Luke's compelling account of this dynamic rabbi who astounded his hearers with parables and paradoxes. What might Luke have experienced as he interviewed eyewitnesses of Jesus? What leads Luke to focus on the marginalized and the unlikely? Why does Luke include certain details that the other Gospel writers omit? Join Michael Card in the work of opening heart and mind to the "Gospel of Amazement."

	The Life, 2 Compact Disc [CD] Set By Michael Card / Emi Cmg Distribution
Join Michael Card on a pilgrimage through the Gospels and draw ever closer to the Savior! From the joyous "Celebrate the Child" to the reflective "Meditation/Baptism," this musical portrait helps you experience the miracle of Jesus' life. Two-CD boxed set.

	The Ultimate Collection: Michael-Card CD By Michael-Card / Emi Cmg Distribution
This highlight collection from Michael Card showcases his undeniable talent for painting beautiful pictures with words and music. Two discs with 24 songs total, including "El Shaddai," "Heal Our Land," "The Nazarene," and more.

A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter By Michael Card / Inter-varsity Press

A Fragile Stone explores the dynamic life of the apostle Peter, revisiting well-known passages and revealing unexpected insights. Author Michael Card sketches out Peter's life, showing how the impetuous fisherman of the Gospels was transformed into the pivotal leader of the early church. "The ultimate reason for getting to know Peter," Card explains, "is so together we might better know Jesus. For the story of Peter is the story of Jesus. Perhaps, if you and I do our best, the same will be said of us someday." Peter's life serves as a model for Christian discipleship, offering hope that we likewise can be changed as Jesus calls us to follow him.

	Parable of Joy: Reflections on the Wisdom of the Book of John By Michael Card / Discovery House Publishers
Explore the Gospel of John as you never have before. Musician and author Michael Card takes a closer look at this account of Christ's life to show us what John has to say. Each section gives the text of Card's translation from the original Greek, and then goes on to explore it's application and impact. What emerges is an intimate, rich look at Christ, through the eyes of His beloved disciple.

A Better Freedom: Finding Life as Slaves of Christ By Michael-Card / IVP Books

After he began attending an African-American Church, legendary song-writer and musician Michael Card was struck by a term used by the congregation in worship-"Master." He learned that slaves in the South used the term to express their independence from the earthly master's, who were not their true master's, and to acknowledge Christ as the true Master. This insight led Card on a journey to understand what it means to call Jesus, Master. A Better Freedom explores the biblical imagery of slavery as a metaphor for Christian discipleship. Card shows how the early church viewed Greco-Roman slavery as a window into understanding Jesus both as a savior who took on the form of a slave, but also the true Lord and Master who sets us free from our own slavery to sin.

Present Reality/Joy In The Journey CD By Michael Card / Emi Cmg Distribution

Two full albums- one great price! The Two-for-One series pairs past releases from prominent artists, offering two albums for the price of one. Present Reality Michael Card's Present Reality features ten original compositions based on verses of the Bible. Enjoy his elegant acoustic musicianship on "Could It Be," "Live This Mystery," "Flesh of His Flesh," and more. Joy in the Journey "The incarnation of Jesus was not a stagnant event which took place once and for all in Galilee two thousand years ago, and then exhausted its meaning. It was the beginning, the start of an ongoing process in which all Christians must participate." - Michael Card This album includes 18 of Michael's best-loved/most-requested songs up through 1994.

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