A: Amazing Grace by John Newton  Arguably the most beloved hymn of all times.  And what a story behind it.  Drunken slave ship captain John Newton begins reading the Bible on board his ship full of human cargo, gets convicted by the Holy Spirit, turns the ship around to release the Africans to their homes, and becomes an abolitionist  pastor in London.

 I remember when Jesus first grabbeed my heart, I was always playing this song.  Ladysmith Black Mambazo's and Arlo Guthrie's versions are particularly special to me.

B:  Beautiful Scandalous Night  as performed by Robbie Seay.  I remember an old blog that I wrote saying I hoped my friend Rick Massana would sing this modern hymn at my funeral.  He has since passed away, but someone has to sing it on that day.  This is our traditional closing music for my class's LOL juggling show.  The poetry is profound in its description of the oxymoronic events of the crucifixion.

C:  Centerfield  by John Fogerty.  I love baseball, and this song speaks to the kid who always wanted to grow up and play in the big leagues.  So fun, so carefree, just like a game of whiffle ball with friends on summer vacation.

D:  Don't Tell Them Jesus Loves Them  by Steve Camp  "Don't tell them Jesus loves them 'til you're ready to love them too."  It's that simple, and that difficult.

E:  Escher's World  by Steve Taylor.  This song was written and recorded when Christian rock's bad boy was the front man of Chagall Guevera.  The lyrics Describe life's complexities, contradictions and confusions as someone trying to live inside an M C Escher drawing.

F:  Father and Daughter  by Paul Simon  No song has meant more to me for so long as this Paul Simon gem, first written for the Wild Thornberries Movie.  My oldest and youngest daughters both used this for their father - daughter dances at their weddings.  Our middle daughter, Naomi, chose the hokey-pokey for our wedding dance  (of course naomi would choose the hokey-pokey!) but she did use Father and Daughter for ther senior year video.

G:  (The) Great American Novel  by Larry Norman.  Larry was the father of Christian rock music.  This six minute plus song was the first to open my eyes to the fact that the way  modern America practices the Christian faith may not be fully lined up with what Jesus had in mind all those years ago.  "Politicians all make speeches, and the newsmen all take notes, and they exagerate the issues as they shove 'em down our throats.  Is it really up to them whether this country sinks or floats?  Well I wonder who would lead us if none of us would vote."

H:  Holy, Holy, Holy  traditional hymn, as sung by Keith Green.  My favorite non-Christmas hymn, and Keith Green's version si perfect.

I:  I Could Never Promise You by Don Francisco.  This was Sue's and my wedding song. Marriage is between not two, but three people: husband, wife and Jesus. During our long distance engagement, I played the record until I almost wore it out.

J:  Justice  by Steve Camp.  Steve Camp's Justice album is one of the best contemporary Gospel albums ever recorded. This title cut is scathing in its criticism of church culture and the dangerous mix of the Gospel and politics.

K:     King of Clowns by Jerry Goebel.  Jerry Goebel is an obscure Catholic music minister from the west coast.  As part of the folk Mass era, he did release a couple albums in the 1980's.  My wife happened to have one when she and I started dating (she had seen him at a church on the east coast).  Though not great in its production, the sincerity and simple acoustic accompaniment drew me in.  This song is one I used to use in my show, first with a preteen partner named Peter, then with my own daughters.  Our first two girls and I did a spinning plate routine to it when they were about four and six years old!  what fun.

L:  Lord, Search my Heart traditional hymn, as sung by Mahalia Jackson

M: Malibongwe  by Abel Selaocoe

N:  No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley

O:  O Come, All Ye Faithful  Christmas Carol

P:  Peace Will Come  by Melanie

Q:  Quiet Please  by Brent Lamb

R:  Red Dirt Girl  by Emmy Lou Harris

S:  Sing Your Praise to the Lord  by Rich Mullins

T:  There But for Fortune by Phil Ochs

U:  Universal Soldier  by Buffy Ste-Marie, as recorded by Donovan

V:  Violets of Dawn by Eric Andersen

W:  Why Don't You Look into Jesus by Larry Norman

      When I'm Gone, by Phil Ochs

X:  X (Ten) Degrees and Getting Colder by Gordon Lightfoot

Y:  Yankee Man by Melanie

Z:  Zandale by the Soweto Gospel Choir