twj73
06-16-2007, 03:04 PM
Though Hillsong United has made huge contributions to the library of rockin' praise tunes, their power ballads are the songs I put on repeat for 20 listens at time ... Right now, here are my favorites.
The Stand (from United We Stand) - I introduced this song to our congregation at Easter and it has quickly become a favorite. This song embodies one of the best definitions of worship - that worship is simply our response to God. "So what can I say, what can I do, but offer this heart O God completely to You?"
From the Inside Out (from United We Stand) - I introduced this song to our youth back in February, and they loved it. We did it as a special a few weeks ago in the main service, and it was well received. From beginning to end, this song is amazing. As a songwriter, I'm challenged to put lyrics and melody to a chord structure and arrangement that *feel* right. This song does that for me. When I sing "... and the cry of my heart is bring You praise, from the inside out, Lord my soul cries out ...", I am *there* in mind, will, emotions, body.
Hosanna (from All of the Above) - This is the most recent song to *grab* me. The bridge is one of the best pieces of worship music writing I've ever heard - lyrically, melodically, and musically within the context of the song. I could listen to the bridge 20 times in a row ... wait, that's actually what I did last week. Brooke's description of the song here (http://youtube.com/watch?v=3sABWDaRX1E) is simple yet powerful. For me, this song defines what a *prophetic* song is. It embodies something God is saying to the Church right now. And our response, should be, "God save us! (Hosanna!)"
Saviour King (from All of the Above) - "You asked Your Son to carry this - the heavy cross - our weight of sin." This song is *heavy* - it's one of those songs where I can't decide if I want lie down on the floor and not move for an hour or if I want scream at the top of my lungs and lift weights (weird picture, I know). I'll put it like this. If you only have 12 minutes and 16 seconds to connect with God. Put this song on and see what happens.
Jesus Is (technically not from Hillsong United - it's from Hillsong London) - To explain this song, I need a caveat. [End times, the rapture, the tribulation ... I'm not clear on all these things. I fully believe Jesus will return to "judge the living and the dead" - but I don't know if it's going to happen the way I was taught growing up. Specifically, I'm not sure about the version of the Rapture described by the classic 80's bumper sticker "Attention: In case of rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned."] So, why all this rambling? My point is that Jesus Is is the kind of song I could imagine singing one minute on earth and the next minute in heaven. It's that powerful. I can get completely caught up in it.
The Stand (from United We Stand) - I introduced this song to our congregation at Easter and it has quickly become a favorite. This song embodies one of the best definitions of worship - that worship is simply our response to God. "So what can I say, what can I do, but offer this heart O God completely to You?"
From the Inside Out (from United We Stand) - I introduced this song to our youth back in February, and they loved it. We did it as a special a few weeks ago in the main service, and it was well received. From beginning to end, this song is amazing. As a songwriter, I'm challenged to put lyrics and melody to a chord structure and arrangement that *feel* right. This song does that for me. When I sing "... and the cry of my heart is bring You praise, from the inside out, Lord my soul cries out ...", I am *there* in mind, will, emotions, body.
Hosanna (from All of the Above) - This is the most recent song to *grab* me. The bridge is one of the best pieces of worship music writing I've ever heard - lyrically, melodically, and musically within the context of the song. I could listen to the bridge 20 times in a row ... wait, that's actually what I did last week. Brooke's description of the song here (http://youtube.com/watch?v=3sABWDaRX1E) is simple yet powerful. For me, this song defines what a *prophetic* song is. It embodies something God is saying to the Church right now. And our response, should be, "God save us! (Hosanna!)"
Saviour King (from All of the Above) - "You asked Your Son to carry this - the heavy cross - our weight of sin." This song is *heavy* - it's one of those songs where I can't decide if I want lie down on the floor and not move for an hour or if I want scream at the top of my lungs and lift weights (weird picture, I know). I'll put it like this. If you only have 12 minutes and 16 seconds to connect with God. Put this song on and see what happens.
Jesus Is (technically not from Hillsong United - it's from Hillsong London) - To explain this song, I need a caveat. [End times, the rapture, the tribulation ... I'm not clear on all these things. I fully believe Jesus will return to "judge the living and the dead" - but I don't know if it's going to happen the way I was taught growing up. Specifically, I'm not sure about the version of the Rapture described by the classic 80's bumper sticker "Attention: In case of rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned."] So, why all this rambling? My point is that Jesus Is is the kind of song I could imagine singing one minute on earth and the next minute in heaven. It's that powerful. I can get completely caught up in it.