Worship Music: The Relevancy Project

Posted by chris on September 2, 2010

Back in July, I read a very thought-provoking blog post by Bob Kauflin. The blog post asks “When should a worship song be retired?“. It’s a question that I pondered a little bit, but did not really confront me practically until literally 5 minutes ago.

After working through different ways of “projecting” song lyrics to congregation, I’ve decided that for the College and Careers group in my church, creating “Worship Books” – kind of like modern day hymnals, is the best way to go. It eliminates the need to set up and take down a power-point system every week. And it also gives us a portable way of doing worship if we ever went away for beach or camping trips – places where there wouldn’t be power for a computer and projection.

I began working on this “Worship Book” about an hour ago. I decided that the best way to do it was to go through CCLI’s top 100 used worship songs. I was doing fine until about 5 minutes ago when I hit a speed bump. I decided that I wanted to “retire” a song – that is, not include a few of those songs on CCLI’s list in my own book. But then I got to thinking, who am I to be making this determination? Am I simply eliminating songs that I didn’t like any more, or did I really think that the songs I was eliminating were no longer useful or relevant for corporate worship?

I pondered this dilemma for a few minutes when I realized, I really need some help with this. Hence this, “Relevancy Project”. For the next week, I am welcoming emails and comments as to what worship songs *you* think are relevant still. So listed below is CCLI’s Top 100 Worship Songs. Please take from the list the songs you think should be included in my College and Career group’s Worship Book… and then make a separate list of songs that you think should be included (please make two distinct lists: one of songs that were in CCLI’s Top 100, and one of songs that are not).

Submissions will be closed on September 10, 2010. And I will post up the songs I’ve decided to include in our “Worship Book” by September 13.

Please if at all possible, read Bob Kauflin’s blog post before doing this project. Also, if you feel comfortable doing it, please include a little blurb about yourself – your age, what you are doing in life (school, work, etc), your church denomination, and any other information like that that you think might affect your choices. I will not take this blurb in to consideration when making my choices. I am just a little interested in how people’s contexts may affect their choices in Worship Music.. This is absolutely not necessary, it is simply welcome if you feel comfortable including it!

Finally, while this project is for my College and Careers group, submissions from anyone is of course welcome. Just because you don’t fit into the age bracket normally associated with this group, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t submit. Everyone’s opinions are welcome here!

Please comment on this post if you wish to remain anonymous. Otherwise, you can email me through chris@trulygodisfirst.com.

Thank you in advanced!

CCLI’s Top 100 Songs

1. Mighty To Save. By Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan
2. How Great Is Our God. By Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash
3. Blessed Be Your Name. By Beth Redman, Matt Redman
4. Here I Am To Worship. By Tim Hughes
5. Everlasting God. By Brenton Brown, Ken Riley
6. Revelation Song. By Jennie Lee Riddle
7. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). By Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, John Newton
8. Holy Is The Lord. By Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio
9. Forever. By Chris Tomlin
10. Jesus Messiah. By Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash
11. Your Grace Is Enough. By Matt Maher
12. Open The Eyes Of My Heart. By Paul Baloche
13. You Are My King (Amazing Love). By Billy Foote
14. Shout To The Lord. By Darlene Zschech
15. Come Now Is The Time To Worship. By Brian Doerksen
16. Hosanna (Praise Is Rising). By Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown
17. In Christ Alone. By Stuart Townend, Keith Getty
18. From The Inside Out. By Joel Houston
19. Hosanna. By Brooke Fraser
20. Lord I Lift Your Name On High. By Rick Founds
21. We Fall Down. By Chris Tomlin
22. God Of Wonders. By Marc Byrd, Steve Hindalong
23. The Heart Of Worship. By Matt Redman
24. Beautiful One. By Tim Hughes
25. Your Name. By Paul Baloche, Glenn Packiam
26. You Never Let Go. By Matt Redman, Beth Redman
27. You Are My All In All. By Dennis Jernigan
28. Friend Of God. By Michael Gungor, Israel Houghton
29. Trading My Sorrows. By Darrell Evans
30. Breathe. By Marie Barnett
31. Days Of Elijah. By Robin Mark
32. You’re Worthy Of My Praise. By David Ruis
33. Better Is One Day. By Matt Redman
34. Sing To The King. By Billy Foote, Charles Silvester Horne
35. Enough. By Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio
36. The Stand. By Joel Houston
37. Indescribable. By Laura Story
38. How Great Thou Art. By Stuart Wesley Keene Hine
39. I Give You My Heart. By Reuben Morgan
40. God Of This City. By Aaron Boyd, Richard Bleakley, Ian Jordan, Andrew McCann, Peter Kernaghan, Peter Comfort
41. How Deep The Father’s Love For Us. By Stuart Townend
42. I Am Free. By Jon Egan
43. How He Loves. By John Mark McMillan
44. The Wonderful Cross. By Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin, J. D. Walt, Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason
45. Happy Day. By Ben Cantelon, Tim Hughes
46. Give Thanks. By Henry Smith
47. Above All. By Lenny LeBlanc, Paul Baloche
48. You Are Good. By Israel Houghton
49. Today Is The Day. By Lincoln Brewster, Paul Baloche
50. Offering. By Paul Baloche
51. Draw Me Close. By Kelly Carpenter
52. Sing Sing Sing. By Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Matt Gilder, Daniel Carson, Travis Nunn
53. Lord Reign In Me. By Brenton Brown
54. You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace). By Marc Imboden, Tammi Rhoton
55. Lead Me To The Cross. By Brooke Fraser
56. All Because Of Jesus. By Steve Fee
57. I Love You Lord. By Laurie Klein
58. I Will Rise. By Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, Jesse Reeves, Matt Maher
59. Glory To God Forever. By Steve Fee, Vicky Beeching
60. Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By Thomas Obediah Chisholm, William Marion Runyan
61. I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever. By Martin Smith
62. Agnus Dei. By Michael W. Smith
63. He Is Exalted. By Twila Paris
64. Love The Lord. By Lincoln Brewster
65. As The Deer. By Martin Nystrom
66. My Savior My God. By Aaron Shust, Dorothy Dora Greenwell
67. Hallelujah. By Brenton Brown, Brian Doerksen
68. Marvelous Light. By Charlie Hall
69. Give Us Clean Hands. By Charlie Hall
70. My Savior Lives. By Jon Egan, Glenn Packiam
71. Let It Rise. By Holland Davis
72. He Knows My Name. By Tommy Walker
73. Majestic. By Lincoln Brewster
74. O Praise Him. By David Crowder
75. How Can I Keep From Singing. By Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Matt Redman
76. Awesome Is The Lord Most High. By Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Cary Pierce, Jon Abel
77. Hungry. By Kathryn Scott
78. Amazed. By Jared Anderson
79. Awesome God. By Rich Mullins
80. Shine Jesus Shine. By Graham Kendrick
81. My Redeemer Lives. By Reuben Morgan
82. Not To Us. By Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin
83. Everyday. By Joel Houston
84. Salvation Is Here. By Joel Houston
85. Majesty. By Jack Hayford
86. Made Me Glad. By Miriam Webster
87. Sanctuary. By John W. Thompson, Randy Scruggs
88. Our God Saves. By Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown
89. Healer. By Mike Guglielmucci
90. Grace Like Rain. By Todd Agnew, Chris Collins, Edwin O. Excell, John Newton
91. Emmanuel. By Bob McGee
92. All Who Are Thirsty. By Brenton Brown, Glenn Robertson
93. Worthy Is The Lamb. By Darlene Zschech
94. Because Of Your Love. By Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown
95. Let God Arise. By Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash
96. Came To My Rescue. By Joel Davies, Marty Sampson, Dylan Thomas
97. I Exalt Thee. By Pete Sanchez Jr.
98. In The Secret. By Andy Park
99. Unchanging. By Chris Tomlin
100. Take My Life. By Scott Underwood

Update: Top 25 Project

Posted by chris on March 28, 2010

This is my last post that is not a tutorial, I promise. First of all I would like to thank everyone who has supported this site for these past two years. I’m not sure if you noticed (if you are a returning guest), but I have taken off the advertisement on the side.

I am pleased to announce that after just a little under a year, all the clicks to those advertisement has finally payed off the cost of running the site! I am paid up until sometime in 2012, and so I’ve decided to take off the advertisement.

For your information though, obviously, since the website has been running for just over a year now I’ve already paid off the site. So actually what I’ve decided to do with the money I got from Google Adsense is to buy a new Uke! Thanks again to everyone’s support!

The next thing I want to mention is the new project that I’m going to be starting after the Easter Break. I am currently on staff with the Worship Ministries of my church, Morningstar Christian Fellowship. And of the benefits of this job is to have access to CCLI’s song select. And, several features that they have there show the various popularity levels of certain songs.

Well for my next project, I’ve decided to work on CCLI’s Top 25 Songs. They are…

1. Mighty To Save
2. How Great Is Our God
3. Blessed Be Your Name
4. Here I Am To Worship
5. Everlasting God *****
6. Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
7. Open The Eyes Of My Heart
8. Your Grace Is Enough
9. Jesus Messiah
10. Holy Is The Lord *****
11. Shout To The Lord
12. Forever
13. You Are My King
14. Come Now Is The Time To WOrship *****
15. Revelation Song *****
16. In Christ Alone
17. Lord I Lift Your Name On High *****
18. Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) *****
19. God Of Wonders
20. We Fall Down *****
21. Beautiful One *****
22. From The Inside Out
23. The Heart Of Worship
24. You Are My All In All *****
25. Days Of Elijah *****

Obviously, I’ve done many of these songs before. But the ones with the ***** beside them I have not, so this is what I’ll be working on after Easter.

Again, thanks for the support. I’m really looking forward to producing these new lessons!

Facebook Page

Posted by chris on January 27, 2010

Hey everyone. Please take the time to find us on Facebook. I’m looking forward to interacting with you, and hopefully putting some faces on some of my audience and commentors.

Major Upgrade!

Posted by chris on January 1, 2010

I hope everyone is having a Blessed Christmas Season! Indeed, let us remember to always seek God this coming New Year.

I have some big news. I know that I have been inactive for a while, but that is about to change with a major upgrade that happened today. I am officially going HD!

Today, I was gifted a Flip UltraHD Camcorder, and I am excited to resume making new lessons, albeit a slower rate – probably 2 every month.

I will, however, when I get back from vacation (I’m in New York right now), immediate produce new versions of my top 5 tutorials (not including Somewhere Over the Rainbow). These revamped tutorials will be of…

* Forever
* Here I Am To Worship
* Who Am I
* How Great Is Our God
* Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

I am looking forward to what God is continueing to do through this ministry!

Unashamed (Tutorial)

Posted by chris on April 12, 2009

Unashamed (Chords)

Posted by chris on

VERSE 1:
  A2       Bsus    C#m7
I have not much to offer you
    A2        Bsus4    C#m7
Not near what you deserve
    A2      Bsus   C#m7
But still I come because your cross
    A2        Bsus  E
Has placed in me my worth

VERSE 2:
   A2        Bsus    C#m7
Oh Christ my king of sympathy
      A2       Bsus       C#m7
Who’s wounds secure at peace
     A2      Bsus     C#m7
Your grace extends to call me friend
     A2    Bsus    E
Your mercy sets me free

CHORUS:
          A2      Bsus
And I know I’m weak
  C#m7
I know I’m unworthy
       A2   Bsus      C#m7
To call upon your name
           A2       Bsus
But because of grace
  C#m7
Because of your mercy
      A2      Bsus   E
I stand here unashamed

VERSE 3:
I can’t explain this kind of love
I’m humbled and amazed
That you come down from heaven’s heights
And greet me face to face

BRIDGE:
        E
Here I am
           A2
At your feet
         Bsus            A2
In my brokenness complete

Jesus, Messiah (Tutorial)

Posted by chris on February 22, 2009

Please note, I transcribed these chords by using another chord sheet I found online, and listening to the music. One of the chords I used, I now know is technically wrong (I ignored what the chord sheet I found said). The E/C# is actually supposed to be a C#m7. It’s only technically wrong, because essentially, the E/C# is itself a C#m7, except I dropped the C# from the right hand. So if you’re a guitarist using these chords and are freaking out trying to figure out how to play a E/C#, play the C#m7 and it shall work! PS: I’m going to keep the incorrect chords because I do not want to redo my video. Haha.

Jesus, Messiah (Chords)

Posted by chris on

INTRO: B/D#  E/C#  B/D#  E/C#

VERSE 1:
B
He became sin
    E/C#
Who knew no sin
     B/D#                E
That we might become His Righteousness
   B                   E/C#
He humbled himself and carried the cross 

PRE CHORUS:
B/F#       E
 Love so amazing
B/F#       E
 Love so amazing 

CHORUS:
        B
Jesus Messiah
           E
Name above all names
          B
Blessed Redeemer
     F#
Emmanuel
                B
The rescue for sinners
                 E
The ransom from Heaven
      B/D#     F#
Jesus Messiah
            B

Lord of all 

VERSE 2:
His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn 

BRIDGE:
        E/C#       B/D#
All our hope is in You
        E          F#
All our hope is in You
        E/C#     B/D#
All the glory to You, God
        E      F#
The light of the world

Please note, I transcribed these chords by using another chord sheet I found online, and listening to the music. One of the chords I used, I now know is technically wrong (I ignored what the chord sheet I found said). The E/C# is actually supposed to be a C#m7. It’s only technically wrong, because essentially, the E/C# is itself a C#m7, except I dropped the C# from the right hand. So if you’re a guitarist using these chords and are freaking out trying to figure out how to play a E/C#, play the C#m7 and it shall work! PS: I’m going to keep the incorrect chords because I do not want to redo my video. Haha.

I Will Search (Tutorial)

Posted by chris on December 12, 2008

I Will Search (Chords)

Posted by chris on

VERSE 1
      E            Emaj7             E6               A         A2
How precious, how lovely are you thoughts, Oh Lord, toward  me.
      E     Emaj7        A               F#m
How truly amazing is the grace You have shown
   B/A  A     B/A     A        Bsus  B
Oh Majesty, I live to see Your face. 

CHORUS
E                                B                E/G#                    A
I will search for You and I will find You, I will find You with all my heart 

E                              B                 C#m7                  Cmaj9
I will lift my hands to You in worship, and I will worship with all my heart 

VERSE 2
How gracious, relentless, is the Father's love  toward us
Breathta    -      king, the beau    -   ty          and the radi    -    ance  of  You
   B/A  A     B/A     A        F#m               B              A
Oh Majesty, I live to see Your face and be transformed into Your image 

BRIDGE
E   B   E/G#                          A
Oh, oh, I will worship You with all my heart
E   B/D# C#m7                         A
Oh, oh, I will worship You with all my heart
   B/A  A     B/A     A        F#m               B              A
Oh Majesty, I live to see Your face and be transformed into Your image
E   B   E/G#                          A
Oh, oh, I will worship You with all my heart
E   B/D# C#m7                         A
Oh, oh, I will worship You with all my heart