NEW YORK (WordNews.org) Feb. 20, 2012  – Mark Harris, the lead songwriter for the Christian band 4Him, says he’s enjoying a “sweet time” in his life.

He recently released his fourth solo album, “Stronger in the Broken Places” and he’s doing things his way these days, he told WordNews.org.

If you don’t know him by name, you know his work. One of his songs was played during a moving scene in the film “Courageous” called “When We’re Together.”

Mark is also the winner of eight Dove awards. He has written 24 No. 1 hits.

Mark said since the end of 4Him and going solo, he finds he has time to invest in those around him, and that has inspired him.

The title track and first single “Stronger in the Broken Places” came to Mark after talking with a friend about a conversation he’d had with his doctor.

“Once a bone breaks in one place, most likely, it will never break there again,” he said, “and I just loved that idea. We all hurt and struggle, but when you heal, you will be stronger because of what you know, so there is beauty in the suffering.”

Bay Community, the Alabama church where Mark is worship pastor, has been instrumental in shaping his new music in fundamental ways, allowing him to get up close and personal to the act of worship and being involved in the lives of people in the church.

In the midst of a characteristically busy day at the office, he found a quiet moment, and in it, “Maker of the Day” came to him like a gift, he said.

“I was reading and praying, and that song came out of the stillness in the moment. Like so much of the rest of this album, God spoke when I got quiet long enough to hear his voice. It is amazing to me what can happen when we stay, quiet before the Lord, until we hear his voice leading.” Mark describes the song as having an honest, folk feel the song offers the simple reassurance of God’s divine rhythms, sovereignty and consistency in the midst of our hectic, often over-scheduled lives.

The album also contains praise-filled “Heaven Sweet Forever” in memory of his father-in-law and “We Will Not Forget” honors and celebrates our veterans while paralleling God’s sacrifice: sending his Son to die in a war of sorts on earth.

“An Offering,” a song about laying down our lives before God, is sweet and honest in tone. His teenage daughter, Maddison, sings the other half of this duet.

Mark said this time of “stepping back” from the studio has revived him, providing him with inspiration. Spending time with his wife and children and serving with others in worship, have brought about change

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