Victory Chant

Written and composed in 1985 by Joseph Vogels, this great praise chant is especially suited to youth and children's groupIt is published in 2 hymnals. Here' is some information I found on Joseph Vogels from "Song Scoops" : Vogels, a native of New Zealand and Australia who now lives in North Carolina, still gets around. He reportedly travels with the divinely inspired message that he delivers with a flair and energy that helps him communicate that God’s presence permeates this planet. Celtic, African, and New Zealand sounds emanate from his music, covering wide areas of the globe. “Victory Chant” calls upon Him through several names, as diverse as the musical genres that Vogels employs. In the same song, the Lord is the lamb, but He’s also the Lion of Judah – sacrifice and conqueror at once. One senses that Vogels felt vigorous, alive as perhaps he hadn’t felt with any other earthbound method, compelling him to write words and music that communicated the elation he felt in knowing his journey has a certain destination.

Victory contains something common in any language. Everyone wants to be a winner, but because only the relatively few find it, including in the world of sports, you have to wonder if most people really know what makes someone a ‘winner’. While it may be a certain amount of luck, health, timing, nerves, talent, and confidence, who can order all of these into perfect synergy? Maybe I cannot expect to very often, terrestrially, at least. And, since I know I’m imperfect, spiritually, what are my chances of the afterlife’s prize? Someone says ‘You can’t know for sure.’ Vogels answers emphatically ‘Yes you can!’ with “Victory Chant”. Jesus was Providential synergy, our victor, humankind’s nexus. So, listen to those champions’ songs, root for your favorite team, and rejoice if they win it all. Remember that feeling, and imagine it going on forever, like the ultimate high multiplied by a million…yow! --David Cain, 5/1/2012