20 Greatest Hymns of All-Time

Trying to come up with a list of top hymns has been about 8 years in the making. It started with a conversation that came out of a game called "Encore." The game basically has two teams going back and forth trying to sing at least 6 words of a song that contains some type of word. For example:
The word is "magic."
Team 1-- "Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart..."
Team 2-- ""Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea..."
Team 1-- "Every little thing she does is magic..."
 
As we played this game, my dad and family friend Ralph went back and forth singing songs well after the game was over. They sang many hymns that I had never heard before, but were apparently "some of the best." This led to us wanting to come up with a "best of" list of great hymns.
 
Every now and then I'd think about creating a list, but never did. Recently, in a moment of curiousity, I put up a question on Facebook. "What are the greatest hymns of all time?" All sorts of responses came in, with over 30 comments being made. Some songs I have on my list, some I had never heard of before, some I had forgotten about.

Obviously lists like this are subjective. This is my list. I think these hymns have deep theological meaning, have withstood the test of time, and are memorable (I'm still whistling the tune or singing the words, off key of course, after I hear them). Still, here is my list, in alphabetical order:

Music-- Take It or Leave It

If you’ve ever driven in a car with me, you know I don’t like to listen to music. If I do have music on, it has to be on low, because I’d rather have conversation, then sing or listen to music.

In fact, in the past, I’ve even gone as far as saying “If I never heard another song, I’d be OK. When it comes to music, I can take it or leave it.” And I meant it. Music has never been a big part of my life. I’ve never cared that much for it.

But over the past few months, my view on music has been changing. Here’s part of the reason why (emphasis mine):

Raw, Real, and Relevant

That’s life, isn’t it?

• It’s Raw. Tender and sensitive.
• It’s Real. Actual and honest.
• It’s Relevant. Messy and important.

The more I realize that, the more it shapes how we do ministry at Hillsboro. The more I invite that R3 attitude and create that R3 environment, the more I feel the weight of sin and brokenness in our world today. At the same time, as I take my eyes off of the wilderness of this life and put them back on the Cross, I know Christ has defeated all those issues and problems permanently.

I think teenagers today can get very tired of “canned” and “polished” messages at church and youth group (I’m not advocating winging it or preparing last minute, but a different type of preparing. I’ll talk more on this in a later post).  They want to see struggle. They want to see pain. They want to know they are not alone in whatever it is they are going through. So we opened our Wednesday nights to the questions that are really on their hearts. And I wanted to share a few with you, to open your eyes as mine have been opened, just what raw, real, and relevant questions teenagers today are going through. I ask that you pray for this generation of teenagers daily, because, yes, times are different today than when you or I were a teenager, but the pain and the hurt and the struggles are very , very similar.

Here’s a few of their questions:

• How do you overcome very challenging temptations? I know getting into the Bible/trusting in God helps, but sometimes I still can’t overcome it.
• What does it look like to be fearful of God?
• How should someone deal with jealousy in a godly way?
• Why is the resurrection important?
• How can I let go of worldly things?
• Where do I begin when telling a friend about God?
• How do I deal with an in-your-face atheist?
• Is there an unforgiveable sin?
• What is the Holy Spirit?

Those are just a few. As I look over the list of questions I received, the overwhelming majority start with “How” or address a doctrinal issue. How do I lead my friends to Christ? How do I live above reproach? How can I overcome sin and temptation? What is the resurrection? What is the trinity? What is the Holy Spirit?

Church: Our students need your wisdom, teaching, and life experience more today than ever before. How can you help answer these raw, real, and relevant questions, based on the grace and truth that God has given you?

Starting Up Again

It's been a long time since I blogged. I'm going to start up again. My writings are usually random, not well-written, and will contain error. That's my life. But by the grace of God, I hope He uses these in a way that I can't.