Comments on: CCLI Top Songs – Open The Eyes of My Heart

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:32:56 +0000

This is a great song to pull out once in a while. It's easy and everyone knows it and the theology IS definitely there. Jasons last blog post..Worship Leader Magazine: Pushing Politics?

By: Ed Schief

Ed Schief — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:44:48 +0000

Like John Lennon said when asked at the famous New York press conference in early 1964, when asked the secret of their success: "If we knew that, we'd be managers and make all the money." Ed Schiefs last blog post..That Lucky Old Sun, Part 2

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:15:23 +0000

Oh, cool! re:your arrangement idea. The last time we did this in worship and I was playing flute, I went into “Holy, Holy, Holy” because I just felt it coming… plus we’d just done it earlier in the traditional service that day, so it was on my mind.

I’ll take your use of that as confirmation!

Amandas last blog post..Simple Encouragements

By: Jon Morris

Jon Morris — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:17:23 +0000

what makes this song so perfect is the singability factor in small services. you only need one guitar or one keyboard, no drums, no bass, no choir…..this song is a great for the lone leader…..which our churches are consumed with. the small group phenomenon has had to help this song as well.

By: Mud Puppy

Mud Puppy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:28:16 +0000

I’m blogging again. Please adjust your life accordingly!

Mud Puppys last blog post..A Brave New World

By: fmckinnon (fmckinnon)

fmckinnon (fmckinnon) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:48:02 +0000

It’s BACK – CCLI Top Songs Discussion Series, #4 Open The Eyes of My Heart @ FredMcKinnon.Com – join at http://is.gd/2aBi

By: Russ

Russ — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:41:28 +0000

CHeck this out: I’m actually going to say that this song actually DOES go deep theologically. In my opinion, even though the lyrics don’t actually talk about Jesus I believe that this song is a nutshell version of Ephesians 1:15:23 (which is the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus).

The Apostle Paul prayed that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened to basically see the hope and power that God used to exalt Jesus.

Read through that passage and then think about this song in the light of this passage. I’m not necessarily saying that Paul Baloche used this specific passage to write the meat of the song lyrics, but the concept is definitely taking the idea of God opening the eyes of our hearts to see Jesus exalted, and making it a personal prayer song.

Great post!

By: Shannon Lewis

Shannon Lewis — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:06:41 +0000

Re: theology, you know that I’m a “theology” dude, myself, but for sure, not every song has to explore the whole of systematic theology itself. I think this song is theologically solid, even if not a dissertation: God is holy – holy, holy, holy (which, in Hebrew, means REALLY VERY SET APART – a term ONLY used of God) – high & lifted up… a God so Holy that the only way we can know Him, or see Him, or experience Him is through His stepping down and revealing Himself, which is why we are asking Him to open our eyes…

Man, that’s GOOD STUFF – I wish I could condense good theology into a song that simple and easy to sing!

Shannon Lewiss last blog post..THANKS FOR LISTENING!

By: Shannon Lewis

Shannon Lewis — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:02:15 +0000

Yes – a simple plea for a Holy (isn’t being “High & Lifted Up” an analogy for holiness – being “set apart”?) God to reveal Himself to us… one of the fun things about this song is that it seems to work in nearly ANY genre or tempo. I’ve led it as a ballad, mid-tempo, and fast song – as ‘soft-rock’, pop, and even punk… it’s just one of ‘those’ songs… it’s versatile! And man o’ man – if you haven’t read Paul’s “God Songs”: that’s one helpful book.

p.s., Fred – if the Hanna doesn’t hit too hard & cancel church, I’ll bring Kauflin’s book for an even trade with Best’s (not for keepsies, though)! Deal?

By: Fred McKinnon

Fred McKinnon — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:34:10 +0000

Mike,
Yeah – those songs, the ones that just come out of a person’s personal worship times … I love that. From what I’ve heard, the bulk of Paul’s songs have come from personal or corporate worship times.

For the Kingdom,
Fred McKinnon
http://www.fredmckinnon.com
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:18:08 +0000

I think we’ve done this song twice this past month, including last Sunday. And it’s on my mp3 player. Simple, easy, truthful.

I love Paul’s testimony about this song – song that come out of times of prayer or free worship can be so powerful. This is a song you can play full out, or one guy on an acoustic, and it works either way.

Mikes last blog post..Man Power