The Worship List

I enjoy a conversation when somebody asks you a question that requires a thoughtful response...so much so that you have to "table" the answer because you need more time to think about it. That happened yesterday, and the question was, "What are your favorite worship songs of all time?"

Yep. That's a good question. We kicked around some songs we liked and we came to two realities: First, that the circumstances in which you hear the song affect the song's "likeability." Second, that different musical styles can change an entire view of the song.

For example, if you hear the song done acoustically in a small chapel on a lake early in the morning you might love it...but done in an arena you might not. Or, you might not like the classic version of the song but maybe a rap version of it kinda did it for you.

And it's with that in mind I give you my list of worship songs and the version I like, realizing that in most cases someone else wrote them:

10. Big House by Audio Adrenaline. Maybe I've been to too many worship events involving teenagers but some of the most enjoyable times with them usually involves this song...largely because the hand motions and such that go along with it involve let every kid sing and take part. Turning around from my 12th row seats and seeing about 10,000 teenagers at Six Flags' amphitheatre sing it and mean it is a pretty nifty worship experience.

9. The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash singing about a side of God that makes many uncomfortable. What could be better than that?

8. Awesome God by the Insyderz. This song makes me sad that "ska" fell out of fashion. When they shout the chorus over and over I always thought that was the way that song SHOULD always be sung.

7. All Hail The Power of Jesus Name by Dallas Theological Seminary students. During chapel services they'd sing the "seminary hymn" a few times per semester, but it was never as cool as when the first chapel of the semester with about 600 students all singing with enthusiasm and gusto in that small chapel. I never went to the overflow room that first day of chapel for that very reason.

6. Psalm 121 by Lost and Found. Because they're such good entertainers their talent gets lost in the mix sometimes. I truly enjoy when anybody puts Scripture to their own tune...and while I'm pretty sure this isn't the way the Israelites sang it as they were heading to the festivals, I'm also pretty sure they'd enjoy this version.

5. Foot of the Cross by the Parsons. I got this as a free download because I subscribe to the Mars Hill podcast. I love the single electric guitar and a singer.

4. There's No One Like You by David Crowder. The first time I heard this song was at a student minister conference with 4,000 other warped minds. He was the worship leader the whole week and I'm not sure if I ever got over hearing this song. Just a joyful response to God that is really catchy. Our church plays this one and the first few times it got some complaints and I'm not sure why to this day.

3. At The Moment by Stavesacre. If I wrote a worship song, this is what it would sound like.

2. She Must and Shall Go Free by Derek Webb. If he doesn't play this when he plays our coffee shop in September, I'll make him do it for me in the parking lot before I hand him his check.

1. Consuming Fire by Third Day. This song is simply my all-time favorite worship song. Unfortunately, most times it's played in any situation other than when Third Day plays it, a lot of times they leave out the haunting guitar solos. Those solos add so much to the song.

Now, I know that when you get something as important to people as music and worship you'll have a lot of strong opinions...what are your favorite worship songs?