Lifestories Devotional: Mark Hall

Most of Hall’s stories involve people walking through circumstances that are ordinary but challenging. One of the more poignant lies behind Casting Crowns’ most recent No. 1 radio hit, “Praise You in the Storm.” It’s a ballad inspired by the struggle and eventual death of a young girl the band had befriended (Erin Edwards) in her battle against bone cancer. Mark Hall taps into the process of faith in all its life forms. He has the ability to enter into the emotions and struggles common to us all, and point the way to God.

As a 16-year veteran of youth ministry, Hall is in the real life trenches, dealing with issues of sex, loss, suicide, cutting, and sorrow where the rubber meets the road, where there is no room for error. His sincerity is seen through his tour scheduling choices: Hall schedules his shows around Wed. night ministry and Sunday morning church services. That attitude of authenticity pays off deeply in “Lifestories.” At the close of each chapter’s song story, he wraps things up with a “Godline” and a “Bottom Line.” Godlines are lyrics that Hall openly attributes to God. The devotional comes from the Bottom Line where he challenges readers to apply the chapter’s message to their own lives in practical ways.

To take things to a personal level, I’ve been using “Lifestories” in my own devotional life, and have found it to be richly satisfying and challenging. More than just a book of feel-good tales, “Lifestories” rings with truth that works. If you want an aid in bringing the messages of heaven down to earth, pick up a copy of Mark Hall’s “Lifestories: Finding God’s ‘Voice of Truth” Through Everyday Life.”

Click here to read Suite's review of Casting Crowns' "Lifesong Live," the album upon which the book's stories are based.

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