Dennis Jernigan

Item: Celebrate Living
Author: David Luck

Celebrate Living

(1996)

Reviewed by David Luck

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Label HeartCryThe LighthouseFebruary 1997

ccm gospel worship

In the world of contemporary praise and worship music you can find a plethora of CD's, tapes, and performers. I have heard many that I have enjoyed, and even some that I have found personally meaningful, but few have touched me the way Dennis Jernigan's Celebrate Living has. This was my introduction into the fifteen-year music ministry of Dennis Jernigan. I find his style and presentation different from the masses. Jernigan reaches out with his own personal testimony, sharing his own experiences and empathizing with the hurts and sorrows of his brothers and sisters in Christ. I find it is atypical of this genre to bring you a full and meaningful worship service. Please don't misunderstand-I love to sing praises and glorify a risen Christ, but for me, worship is more than that. Celebrate Living is, for me, a complete worship service that ministers in an uplifting and powerful way.

There are so many songs that touched me on this project it's truly difficult to single one out. Jernigan's testimony that accompanies his duet with Matthew Ward of Second Chapter of Acts is one such track. It stands out above the rest, both for his testimony and for their duet of "The Lord Is My Shepherd." Another that I found fresh and exciting is "Celebrate Living." The beat and the sound are captivating. The lyrics, well, see for yourself:

Once my life was not worth living 'Til Jesus came to me forgiving Exchanging death with hope and giving life Now with my Father I am going With life my heart is overflowing There is no greater joy than knowing life. Celebrate living! Celebrate life! Celebrate living life! Celebrate living! Celebrate life! Celebrate living life with Lord Jesus Christ! Celebrate new life!

Celebrate Living was recorded live at Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. The CD offers a selection of twelve songs of praise, worship, and prayer with a mighty blending of vocals and instrumentals-all glorifying God. The video adds eight songs and the personal testimony of Dennis Jernigan-making this a great combination purchase for anyone who enjoys contemporary praise and worship music. If you're accustomed to hour-long worship services, go with the CD-but if you can handle two hours of continuous praise and worship of our Lord, then you have just got to get your own copy of Dennis Jernigan's Celebrate Living video.