It may have been originally by Charles Wesley (the father of the founder of the Methodist Church?) and written in 1749. 

Here are the lyrics:

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Jesus!_the_Name_High_over_All

Can you tell me the name of the CD that has Jesus The Name High Over All on it?  If you could email me I would greatly apreciate it. 

Ah, the heart of the issue… couldn’t agree more, Shaun.

I don’t care whether people like my church or not.  I don’t invite them on “Friend Day” so I can get a little pin for inviting the most “lost” people. 

I have enough trouble trying to do what Jesus asked us to do (Love the LORD your God w/ all your heart, soul, mind, and strength & love your neighbor as yourself) without all the added distraction of trying to make church “cool”, or convince my neighbors that they should go there.

We have (3) young girls and put them to sleep each night with Fernando Ortega’s latest release: “The Shadow of Your Wings”. If I try to change it, they ask for the “piano music”. I love what he has done with his career and gifts, and how his focus has been on turning this generation (and others), on to old and new hymns. He has “bucked” the system, to say the least, but has had great success, especially as of late with Curb. Listening to him talk (at the 1-2 shows I’ve seen), is like hearing ancient wisdom, and he paints imagery unlike few I’ve heard (i.e., ‘Old Girl’ or ‘Winter Song’ from the “Home” album)

Your thoughts….or anyone else’s. I didn’t see anyone post about his interpretations in the ‘comments’.

Great to be reading your “shlog”!!

-Brandon from H-Town

That being said, I agree completely that music does not equal worship in and of itself.  The church should be attracting people to it’s doors with it’s relationship, descipleship, accountability, and sound Bible doctrine.  Of course, the non-believer may not realize that’s what they’re looking for initially.  Hopefully though, we’re not inticing people to attend under false pretenses (ie: “the music’s great, hang with us” or “we can relate to you ‘cause our music is ‘contemporary’”).  That’s living a lie and something The church should NOT be practicing.

Beth

Interesting discussion. I was a Music Major with an emphasis in Church Music (aka the small group of students who want to lead worship), where we studied everything from emerging worship to the ancient hymns of the first few centuries.  in our hymnology class we studied the hymns and their authors and composers.  there is so much richness in the hymns. I think the problem is in the way that hymns are done these days, without passion.  When they are done with passion and significance, (and more instrumentation) they hold greater meaning than just singing along with the organ and the “song leader” that can’t sing in the small country church.  I think some of us have separated ourselves from hymns in an attempt to find the fire and the passion.  I believe strongly that “modern” worship is good because they are prayers and they get us singing prayers.  There is so much that can be said, but these are just a few of my many thoughts..being one who is very interested in worship music and music in the church.  It is interesting that the author of the article above says that the music doesn’t matter in their selection of churches because I think it matters a great deal because God is the creator of creativity and we create to glorify our Creator, to express things that overflow from our hearts through melodies and in praise and adoration, in crying out.  When the music is done in a half-hearted, unorganized or careless manner, without excellence, it detracts people like me.  That is not to say that everyone in the country church doesn’t have passion or isn’t really worshiping, but for people like me, i honestly struggle to worship in that situation.

I agree that the community aspect of being involved in church is important, but if you can’t worship in that setting, isn’t it just about seeing a bunch of people you know?