Comments on: CCLI Top Songs – Blessed Be Your Name

By: Paul Wilkinson

Paul Wilkinson — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:09:31 +0000

Another feature of this song — and I admit that ultimately this is very superficial — is that somehow this song became one of the first (okay THE first) to enter into our Sunday morning experience while still “topping the charts” so to speak on Christian radio. It was like the church had finally caught up chronologically; we weren’t singing yesterdays hits anymore. Whatever that counts for, it certainly deserved its success, though personally, I’m always sobered when I get to “You give and take away…”

By: Bobby Gilles

Bobby Gilles — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:29:29 +0000

I’m with Paul J — the expression of lament is part of the appeal and part of what we NEED to sing and hear. I love that it’s a song of faith and stubborn joy. Life isn’t sunshine and roses. Yet we still acknowledge that our hope and dependence is in God, and we cry “Blessed be Your name.”

A great biblical song, catchy music — one of the best songs of one of the best worship songwriters.

Bobby Gilless last blog post..Links Around The Web, And Then Back To Our Own Studio

By: Michiel

Michiel — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:45:32 +0000

O, how I wish we could lead this song in church! It’s quite a big deal for our congregation to worship in our own language. And translating this song wouldn’t do any good to both the message and ’singability’.

Anyway, I love Redman’s ability to craft songs that are honest, biblical and allow for us to respond to God even through hard times of ’suffering’.

By: dorothy (vicar of vibe)

dorothy (vicar of vibe) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:42:36 +0000

I am really enjoying these posts and comments. Keep them coming! dorothy (vicar of vibe)s last blog post..bread machines…

By: Billy Chia

Billy Chia — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:41:14 +0000

We are doing this one on Sunday. I'm a fan. Billy Chias last blog post..Play it in Layers

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:57:35 +0000

If my vote counted, this song would be #1. I didn’t become a fan of it until I heard Newsboys do it live in 2005, and I was hooked after that.

By: Bring It On Back « The Jon Morris

Bring It On Back « The Jon Morris — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:12:41 +0000

[...] August 14, 2008 Bring It On Back Posted by thejonmorris under Worship Hey everyone, I got a couple questions that I would love some feedback on. After reading the CCLI’s top 25 list, I would love to know what songs are your favorite, what songs you’re about to teach, and what songs will always be. If you want to see the top 25 go to Fred McKinnon’s blog. [...]

By: Russ

Russ — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:27:53 +0000

Very good song. We used it this Sunday in our set.

To me, I actually think the song isn’t necessarily theologically deep, as much as it is straight forward.

The whole song is based around one thing singing praise regardless of the circumstance.

I like the “opposites” approach of the verses, pre-chorus, and bridge.

God’s is worthy of praise in good times and bad, when He gives and when He takes.

Pretty straightforward.

By: Shannon Lewis

Shannon Lewis — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:46:03 +0000

p.s., Fred – a ‘home-run’ on this series, as well. I’m loving it!

By: Shannon Lewis

Shannon Lewis — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:43:27 +0000

Redman has for quite sometime, until his recent church-plant, then move to the states, was part of a ‘charismatic calvinist’ church in London, “Christ the King” of New Frontiers (sorta relationally the ’sister churches’ of Sovereign Grace MInistries in Europe), hence the ’strong sovereignty’ pictured in the song, most likely. I think that either way, most christians (except for ‘open theists’ who don’t believe that God knows or controls the future) can affirm these lyrics. Personally, this is one of my favorite songs of all time: the lyrics level me. It calls me to both genuinely mourn my troubles, & at the same time fully trust God in their midst.

What I think is so very strong about this song, is that though the lyrics are very theologically deep, they are at the same time both personal (nearly everyone can relate to most of the lines in one way or another), and follow a pattern (joyful event – ‘blessed be Your name’; hardship – ‘blessed be Your name’), then a lifting pre-chorus, which is probably the hardest part of the song to catch onto if it didn’t have such a hook, then a simple, repeating chorus, which, along with the simple bridge, can be easily sung to God with your eyes closed after a single listen.

I think this song is a grand-slam, and it’s what I aspire to (and haven’t yet even come close) every time I write. In face, Redman is probably one of my ‘living heros’. Wonder if he’d be interested in a co-write? Probably not.

Shannon Lewiss last blog post..Worship God ‘08 Blog-love, & a review of my electives…

By: Alastair

Alastair — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:28:04 +0000

Now this is a good song. Like you mention in the theology section – the ‘give and take’ line is difficult to sing for some people. I like to think of it of acknowledging God (and only God) is in total control.

Alastairs last blog post..Mind Mapping

By: Paul J.

Paul J. — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:37:02 +0000

Probably one of the biggest reasons this song has resonated with the church? Lament. This was the first song in a long time that expressed lament in a way that people COULD and WOULD sing congregationally.

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:51:19 +0000

This is one of those songs that I think will stay in the church for years to come. Matt always writes amazing songs that are so full of who God is. Fred-on a different note, one of my primary professors has been studying the ccli list for years (since the payouts were reported in 1989) and has done extensive research on the content. He is just starting to publish it in bits and pieces. I am trying to find the book where his first article on the topic is and I will email it to you. Chads last blog post..Answering the tough questions:Part 1

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:03:19 +0000

This is far an away the favorite of our children’s group. They just love to sing it! I once did a whole teaching on the theology behind this song for them.

I also once used this song as the anchor of an hour in an all night prayer session we were doing. Being as the song was written as a response to 9/11, and being at the church praying at two in the morning was very reminicient of what we were doing there on that day, the connection was palpable. I’ve played this song slow acoustic, full on rock, and everything between, and it always hits home.

Mike

Mikes last blog post..Another Year

By: Rob Petrini

Rob Petrini — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:57:57 +0000

By the way Fred, great blog… really enjoying the interaction… thanks mate.

Rob Petrinis last blog post..The Best Songs of all Time… Part 1

By: Rob Petrini

Rob Petrini — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:54:50 +0000

We usually end on this song… it’s a kicker! It really sums up what worship is all about… Again, not a song I’d listen to that often (though Tree63’s version is not bad)… it is definetly powerful in a community worship setting!

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:48:30 +0000

I feel almost as though I shouldn’t post any thoughts on this as it holds such personal importance to me….as it does with thousands of people. One of Matt Redman’s greatest gifts is writing songs about trusting God through adversity “The Father’s Love, You Never Let Go etc”. If you read his book Unquenchable Worshiper you learn a little bit about his personal story and can see why this is so.

One of the best songs for our congregation to sing with the medium tempo, easy melody and fantastic anthemic bridge. “You give and take away…”

Love it!

Bens last blog post..Hallucinate, Desegregate, Mediate, Communicate…

By: Fred

Fred — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:23:00 +0000

Deron,
Tempo is something I didn’t even mention – but you are right, it’s more medium, and is a great transitional song!

By: Deron Freeman

Deron Freeman — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:58:57 +0000

I led this song last night. Our people always dig into this one. The medium tempo makes this song a perfect transitional song for people to start looking inward. When I lead this one, I think about all the times God has carried me through those rough times. I don’t necessarily look at the dark moments, but at how God carried me though those seasons of lack or despair. I equate this song to the modern version of “It is Well”.
Singable? – The proof is always in the pudding. Our people belt this one out.

Deron Freemans last blog post..What are you looking for?