LoveMusic! - God of Wonders - Paul Baloche

God of Wonders

Paul Baloche

Nov. 11, 2017

Greetings LoveMusic! listeners.

In the year 2000, the song Open the Eyes of My Heart came out, and churches all across the world sang it for the next 15 years and still counting. As a result, Paul Baloche, now an Integrity Music worship leader, became known by many from his home in Lindale, Texas.

A year later in 2001 he introduced to Christian contemporary music followers, and worship leaders across America, the next wonderful song to be added to churches' popular song lists - God of Wonders. Being a subscriber to Integrity Music's Hosanna! Music, and as worship leader myself, it was soon added to my song list for Sunday morning.

What a great song. Thank you Paul!

Sing along as you did back then, and rejoice that we serve the Almighty God, the God of all wonders!

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Love For His People

Charlotte, North Carolina

USA

P.S. And after you have listened to God of Wonders, listen to this one too! Jesus You Are (written by Paul Baloche.)

God of Wonders

Lyrics

Lord of all creation
Of the water, earth and sky
The Heavens are Your Tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high

God of wonders, beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy

Lord of Heaven and Earth
Lord of Heaven and Earth

So Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
And as I stumble into darkness (I will call Your name by night)
I will call Your name by night

God of wonders, beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy

Lord of Heaven and Earth (Lord of Heaven and Earth)
Lord of Heaven and Earth (Lord of Heaven and Earth)

Hallelujah to the Lord of Heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of Heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of Heaven and earth

Sing God of wonders

Paul Baloche

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paul Baloche
Paul Baloche in concert at St. John Lutheran Church-Ellisville, Missouri, U.S.
Background information
Birth name	Paul Joseph Baloche
Born	June 4, 1962 (age 55)
Origin	Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Worship, contemporary Christian
Occupation(s)	Worship leader, songwriter, singer
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Integrity
Associated acts	Don Moen, Rita Baloche
Website	www.leadworship.com

Paul Joseph Baloche^[1] (/bəˈlɒʃ/ bə-LOSH; born on June 4, 1962) is an American Christian music artist, worship leader, and singer-songwriter. A native of Maple Shade Township, New Jersey,^[2][3] Baloche is currently the worship pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas. Baloche composes on piano and acoustic guitar, favoring guitar when leading worship. His wife, Rita Baloche, is also a Christian songwriter. Baloche is one of the writers for Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith from Delirious?.^[4]

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1Musical career
• 2Discography
• 3Videography
• 4Books
• 5References
• 6External links

Musical career[edit]

Numerous artists have performed Baloche's songs, including Michael W. Smith,^[5] Casting Crowns,^[6] Rebecca St. James,^[7]Phillips, Craig and Dean,^[8][9][10] Anthony Evans,^[11] and Sonicflood.^[12][13] Baloche has co-written songs with Aaron Shust,^[14]Kari Jobe,^[15][16] Meredith Andrews,^[17] and Lincoln Brewster^[18][19] for use on their respective albums. Some of Baloche's songs rank among the most-performed songs in services according to CCLI.^[20] Top-ranked songs include "Open the Eyes of My Heart", "Hosanna", "Your Name", "Today Is The Day", and "Above All".^[20][21] Baloche has received numerous Dove Awards over the years. He was nominated for Song of the Year in both the 2002 and 2003 Dove Awards, and in 2002, Michael W. Smith's version of the same song won Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year. Baloche was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year in 2002.^[22] In 2009, Baloche won a Dove Award for Inspiration Recorded Song of the Year as co-author of "A New Hallelujah" with Michael W. Smith and his wife Debbie Smith.^[23]

Baloche has been a pioneer in providing visual instructional resources for church worship teams. In 1995, he released The Worship Guitar Series, a set of three videos. Between 2002 and 2006, he released The Modern Worship Series, a set of eight instructional DVDs focused on helping church worship teams increase their skill and confidence. In 2005, he released the book God Songs, a practical resource for worship songwriters, currently in its 8th printing.

His catalog of twelve albums is focused on providing worship music for churches to use in their Sunday morning services. His albums are released by his publisher Integrity Music. In addition to songwriting, Baloche participates in several seminars for worship leaders and musicians throughout North America and Asia.^[24]

The 2006 release A Greater Song is a live recording featuring songs by Baloche, some co-written with worship artists including Matt Redman ("A Greater Song") and former Integrity Music president Don Moen ("Thank You Lord").^[24]

The 2009 release Glorious featured the single "Just to Be With You", which Baloche explained "is simply about intimacy with God."^[25]

On April 3, 2012 Baloche released album The Same Love featuring the single "The Same Love".^[26]

On October 29, 2013, Baloche also released a live Christmas worship album featured old and new songs suitable for use during the Christmas season.^[27]

In November 2013, Baloche won a GMA Canada Covenant Award for International Album of the Year for "Glorieux", a French language worship album.^[28]

Appreciating Worship Leaders - Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, David Crowder, Don Moen, Jesus Culture...

"Just a few of my favorite ones..." Steve Martin

Chris Tomlin - Passion 2014 Atlanta

David Crowder

Matt Redman - UK

Jesus Culture - USA

Don Moen

 

Darlene Zschech - Australia

Jesus Culture

John G. Elliott

John G. Elliott - Nashville

John G. Elliott

Back in the day...1970's and '80's

Joshua Aaron - Israel

Keith Green - heaven in now his home

The early Jesus Music - some of the best

Love Song - '70's California

Marty Goetz - USA

Paul Baloche - Texas

Paul Wilbur - Messianic music

Jacksonville, FL

Rueben Morgan - Australia

Robert Critchley - Canada

Robert Critchley - Canada

Robin Mark - Ireland

Ted Pearce - Messianic worship

Joel Chernoff of LAMB

Messianic Jew

...and then the best quartet ever! 4HIM!!!

Biography In the business of music, 15 years might as well be a lifetime; however, for four ordinary guys who couldn’t imagine anything better than singing about Jesus, the past 15 years have been more like a dream come to life. 4HIM has been about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through the powerful, incomparable medium of music since their beginnings singing with the well-known ensemble group, Truth. From the four ordinary guys who formed while sitting down at McDonald’s to explore the idea of forming a four-man pop-gospel group, 4HIM presents ENCORE…FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, their final project as 4HIM, a collection of career favorites, as well as a solo song from each member. “We couldn’t think of a better way to write the closing chapter to our story than to sing our way out,” 4HIM states,  “We hope you hear our hearts in ENCORE and know how blessed we’ve been to be a part of your lives.” Since their formation in 1989, their harmonic convergence—the likes of which hadn’t been heard in Christian music since the Imperials took audiences by storm in the late 1970s—blended the best of tradition from past decades in Christian music with modern pop sensibilities and no-holds-barred, real life lyrics.  Christian radio ‘got it’ right of the box with the group’s first No. 1 single, “Where There Is Faith,” and audiences began to sit up and take notice of the fresh-faced foursome from down south. 4HIM managed to transcend any of those potential pratfalls, continuing to make music that not only met the needs of listeners but pushed the creative envelope as the mainstream pop music scene evolved into something a little less slick, less produced. By the time 4HIM’s ‘best of’ album released in 2004, all four men were contemplating ‘where do we go from here?’ Not because they were drifting apart or because the opportunities were few and far between. No, call it sixth sense, the sense of discovery, of beginning to understand that there could be life beyond the ministry they’d devoted the biggest part of their adult lives to. After much prayer, Andy Chrisman decided to pursue a lifelong passion as worship leader at a local church in Celebration, Florida. Mark Harris had begun writing new songs for a solo project. Marty and Kirk were also busy writing and doing production work on their own. Each one, in his own time, began to feel the excitement of seeing new roads winding out before them. They began, one by one, to sense God saying “I am doing a new thing in you.” And so, with gratitude for all God has done over the past 15 years, they began to write the closing chapter in the story of 4HIM.  Taking a walk down memory lane, 4HIM recorded new versions of their biggest hits on the farewell project.  Once again their longtime producer Michael Omartian produced the project, which features nine favorite 4HIM songs, in addition to a medley and one new track, “Unity (We Stand),” featuring guest vocalists Point of Grace and Jeromy Deibler of FFH. Four bonus solo songs from each band member will also be included. “This project will hopefully capture the spirit of the songs and where we are now in 2005 musically, spiritually and thematically it will be a trip down memory lane with a new twist,” Mark Harris explains.  “We wanted to do this last project as a gift to our loyal fans—to commemorate all the years of faithful support we have received from them.” Throughout their time together, 4HIM has received much acclaim for their 11 hit albums including an RIAA Gold certified album (The Basics of Life), 24 No. 1 radio singles, eight Dove Awards including three “Group of the Year,” and a Grammy Award nomination as well as Alabama’s Music Hall of Fame for The Governor’s Achievement Award.  In addition to their numerous tours across the nation, the group has also been featured performers with the Billy Graham and Louis Palau crusades. AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS 2003 Dove Award nomination – Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year 1998 Dove Award - Group of the Year Dove Award - Inspirational Song of the Year for “Center of the Mark” 1998 WOW! Inspirational Award nomination - Performing artist of the Year 1997 Grammy Award nomination - Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for The Message 1996 RIAA certified gold album for The Basics of Life 1996 CCM Magazine’s readers’ poll - Favorite Long Form Video for The Ride Comes Alive 1995 American Songwriter - Christian Artist of the Year 1995 Dove Award - Group of the Year 1994 CCM Magazine - Song of the Year for “For Future Generations” 1994 Dove Award - Group of the Year Dove Award - Inspirational Album of the Year for The Season of Love 1993 Christian Booksellers Association Impact Award - Cassette Jacket Design for The Basics of Life Christian Booksellers Association Impact Award - Total Promotional Campaign, Music for The Basics of Life 1993 Dove Award - Group of the Year Dove Award - Inspirational Album of the Year for Generation to Generation 1992 Christian Research Report Reporter Poll - Best Group 1991 Christian Research Report Reporter Poll - Best Group 1991 Dove Award - Best New Artist 1990 Christian Research Report Reporter Poll - Best New Artist VIDEOGRAPHY 1996 The Message in the Making 1995 The Ride Comes Alive 1993 The Basics of Life 1991 Face the Nation DEVOTIONAL BOOK 1998 The Basics of Life ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS • A career total so far of 22 number one singles • Partners in hunger relief with World Vision—featured performer on World Vision 2003 Spring Tour • Nominated by Alabama’s Music’s Hall of Fame for The Governor’s Achievement Award • 2002 “4Guys And A Fruitcake” Christmas tour with Chonda Pierce • Featured performers with the Louis Palau crusade and the Billy Graham crusade • Co-headlined a national tour with Point of Grace • Co-headlined 1998 fall national tour with Jaci Velasquez and special guest Michelle Tumes • Headlined 1998 Spring tour with special guest Big Tent Revival featuring Jeni Varnadeau • Performed at “Sold Out 1998” Promise Keepers conference the day before the Super Bowl • Co-host of the 1998 NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) Bobby Clampett/4HIM Pro-Am Classic Golf Tournament—

Casting Crowns - full Christmas Album "Peace On Earth" - including "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" - GREAT ALBUM!

From the Casting Crowns album Peace On Earth. 

• Category

  Music

• License

  Standard YouTube License

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length 

1. "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Baptiste Calkin, Mark Hall, Dale Oliver 4:22

2. "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" John F. Wade, Hall, Adam Lester 3:47

3. "Joy To The World" Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason, Hall 2:37

4. "While You Were Sleeping" (Original Christmas Version) Hall 4:55

5. "Silent Night" Josef Mohr, Franz X. Gruber, Hall, Lester 3:33

6. "God Is With Us" Wayne Kirkpatrick 4:31

7. "Away In A Manger" Unknown lyricist, James R. Murray, William J. Kirkpatrick, Oliver 3:35

8. "Christmas Offering" Paul Baloche 5:14

9. "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" (arranged by Hall, Bernie Herms, and Jim Gray) Robert MacGimsey 3:08

10. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (arranged by Melodee DeVevo and Herms) Unknown author 6:38

"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" Lyrics	t]
by Casting Crowns | from the album Peace On Earth

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play

And mild and sweet their songs repeat

Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing

Like a choir they're singing

In my heart I hear them

Peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head

There is no peace on earth I said

For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing

Like a choir singing

Does anybody hear them?

Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men

Then ringing singing on its way

The world revolved from night to day

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good will to men

And the bells they're ringing 

Like a choir they're singing

And with our hearts we'll hear them 

Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they're ringing?

The life the angels singing

Open up your heart and hear them

Peace on earth, good will to men

Peace on earth, Peace on earth

Peace on earth, Good will to men

Peace on Earth (Casting Crowns album)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Peace on Earth

Studio album by Casting Crowns

Released October 7, 2008

Recorded Zoo Studio (Franklin, TN)
My Refuge Studio (McDonough, GA)
Ocean Way (Nashville, TN)
Genre Christmas

Length 39:53

Label Reunion
Producer Mark Hall, Mark A. Miller

Singles from Peace on Earth

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

Released: 2008


Peace on Earth is the first Christmas album by American Christian rock band Casting Crowns. Produced by Mark Hall and Mark A. Miller, it was released on October 7, 2008. Intended by Hall to bring out the worshipful aspect of Christmas, the album does not have songs relating to secular Christmas traditions, instead featuring a mix of traditional Christmas carols and original songs. As co-producer, Hall attempted to differentiate the album from their previous ones by attempting to use creative ideas they had not tried before, and he also wanted to utilize the band's female members in a broader and more visible role on the album.

Upon its release, Peace on Earth met with mixed reviews. Some critics praised the album's emphasis on traditional Christmas songs and the worship aspect of Christmas, while others criticized the album's original songs and felt it was a disappointment in comparison to the band's previous albums. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Christian Albums and Catalog Albums charts, number two on the Holiday Albums chart, and number fifteen on the Billboard 200. Peace on Earth has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying shipments of five hundred thousand copies in the United States.


Contents

1 Background and recording
2 Composition
3 Commercial reception
4 Critical reception and accolades
5 Track listing
6 Personnel and credits
7 Charts and certifications
7.1 Album charts
7.2 Song charts
7.3 Certifications
8 References


Background and recording

According to Casting Crowns' lead vocalist Mark Hall, Peace on Earth was written based on the question "How do you know there's peace on earth in a world that isn't very peaceful?" Hall opined that when people hear Christmas carols, they often don't hear their true message. Hall intended the album to help people rediscover the worshipful nature behind the carols. As an example of a message he wanted people to hear, he gave "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", a song written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about his rediscovery of hope amidst several personal tragedies. 

Hall felt that the song's message of hope was one that his kids and their generation needed to hear. As a co-producer on the album, Hall wanted to introduce aspects and ideas that the band had not done before, and he felt the album offered a chance to branch out. He wanted the band's female members, Megan Garrett and Melodee DeVevo, to play a more prominent role, in part to show people "the gifts they have".
Composition

Peace on Earth does not contain material relating to secular Christmas traditions like Santa Claus or Jack Frost, instead featuring a mix of traditional Christmas carols and original songs. "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", instead of using a carol of bells, has a choir of children personifying the bells by singing the refrain of 'peace on earth'. "While You Were Sleeping", originally included on the band's 2005 album Lifesong, is included in its original form. 

On the Lifesong version, the band had altered the song (originally written as a Christmas song) to remove the most "seasonal" elements; the version included on Peace on Earth features the lyrics in their original form. On "God Is With Us", originally recorded by Amy Grant, Hall shares lead vocal duties with the band's female members. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is an instrumental piece, which makes extensive use of DeVevo's violin playing."Away in a Manger" was originally included on WOW Christmas (2005), and is included on Peace on Earth in that form.
Commercial reception

Peace on Earth was released on October 7, 2008. It debuted at number four on the Billboard Christian Albums chart as well as at number two on the Holiday Albums chart and number fifty-six on the Billboard 200. It reached a peak of number one, two, and fifteen on those charts, respectively, as well as a peak of number one on the Catalog Albums chart. In the United States, it ranked as the thirtieth best-selling Christian album of 2008, the fifth best-selling Christian album of 2009, and the 151st best-selling album of 2009.Peace on Earth received a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in November 2009, signifying shipments of over 500,000 copies in the United States.

The album's lead single, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", peaked at number three on the Billboard Christian Songs chart and number one on the Hot Christian AC chart; it also became the band's first and only entry on theAdult Contemporary chart, peaking at number twenty-six. Several other songs from the album also charted; "Away in a Manger" charted in 2005 following its appearance on WOW Christmas, peaking at number seven on the Christian Songs and Hot Christian AC chart. "While You Were Sleeping" peaked at number eight on the Christian Songs chart and number four on the Hot Christian AC chart, and "Joy to the World" peaked at number twenty-two on the Christian Songs chart.

Critical reception and accolades
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic
CCM Magazine
Christianity Today
Cross Rhythms
Jesus Freak Hideout


Upon its release, Peace on Earth met with a mixed reception from music critics. Jared Johnson of Allmusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising it for its "wide appeal" and for having "a cohesive set of songs that brings out the worship aspect of the holidays" and particularly praising "While You Were Sleeping" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel".

Andrew Greer of CCM Magazine gave it 3 out of 5 stars, regarding it as a let-down in comparison to the band's previous albums as well as holiday albums that other artists had put out. Russ Breimier of Christianity Today gave it 2 out of 5 stars, describing it as "predictable". However, he praised "While You Were Sleeping" as an example of Mark Hall's "bold, poignant songwriting". Tony Cummings of Cross Rhythms gave the album a perfect 10 out of 10 stars, saying that it "bucks all the trends in that it doesn't contain saccharine, sleigh bell-drenched arrangements nor those ghastly songs about Santa and chestnuts roasting in an open fire" and praising it as an "inventive and on occasions brilliant exploration of the wonders of the incarnation".

Justin Mabee of Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, praising the traditional Christmas songs on the album but criticizing the original songs as having a "forced feel to them, almost like Casting Crowns wanted to do a whole album of traditional songs, but were told differently"; he remarked that "this would have probably worked better, because the originality is lacking in these few original Christmas tunes".

At the 40th GMA Dove Awards, Peace on Earth was nominated for and received the award for Christmas Album of the Year.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length 

1. "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Baptiste Calkin, Mark Hall, Dale Oliver 4:22

2. "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" John F. Wade, Hall, Adam Lester 3:47

3. "Joy To The World" Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason, Hall 2:37

4. "While You Were Sleeping" (Original Christmas Version) Hall 4:55

5. "Silent Night" Josef Mohr, Franz X. Gruber, Hall, Lester 3:33

6. "God Is With Us" Wayne Kirkpatrick 4:31

7. "Away In A Manger" Unknown lyricist, James R. Murray, William J. Kirkpatrick, Oliver 3:35

8. "Christmas Offering" Paul Baloche 5:14

9. "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" (arranged by Hall, Bernie Herms, and Jim Gray) Robert MacGimsey 3:08

10. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (arranged by Melodee DeVevo and Herms) Unknown author 6:38