Touching Heaven Changing Earth
Worship Leader: Darlene Zschech
Hillsong Music Australia 1998
"Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN" Matt 6:10
Those who have grown addicted to Hillsong’s aggressive, high-energy music will love the latest 1998 album. Immediately one is ushered into fast, hand-clapping, feet-dancing praise with "come into his courts with thanksgiving" (from "that’s what we came here for")… a catchy song like many of Hillsong’s praise songs. The pace does not let up as the title song, "Touching Heaven, Changing Earth" begins immediately after. Notice the exciting link to the next really catchy song, "Church on Fire". These three songs have the cumulative effect of helping the congregation really get into the "praise mood" and await God with expectancy.
The tempo then slows down a bit (just a little) in preparation for subsequent worship. The song "Lord your Goodness" helps to focus the worshippers on the great things God has done in our lives. This is followed by one of the most intimate worships I’ve ever encountered on Hillsongs’ albums. Unlike the multi-stanza worship songs which marked previous albums, these are actually quite easily memorizable.
First the presence of the Spirit is invited with "Holy Spirit Rain Down". A guitar intro ushers in "You are Holy", an 8-line song of extraordinary, worshipful simplicity which expresses so many of the yearnings of our heart to know God in the beauty and splendour of His holiness. This would be a good song for altar ministry time.
The first half of this album concludes with the intense "Jesus You Gave It All", remembering what Jesus had given to each of us. This song has a really spontaneous, free-flowing ending; this is a difficult achievement made to seem so easy by Darlene.
The second half of the album begins with praise: "Yes and Amen." Which leads on to the feet-stomping "You Gave Me Love". After this pace again slows a little with "Glorified". In fact, I notice that most worship leaders choose a slower song to link a fast medley with slow worship songs… this prevents "stop signs on an expressway", to use a borrowed phrase.
The album also has another four worship songs, which I leave to you to enjoy. Finally the album ends with the rousing reprise, "Touching Heaven, Changing Earth".
I think that one of the reasons why Hillsongs are a preferred choice of worship leaders around the world, is their easy adaptability to many contemporary churches. Also Hillsong worship songs tend to be intimate in nature. If you haven’t tried one of their albums, or heard one of their songs, do it quickly; or, if you’re the patient type, you could wait for their next project, which I believe will be just as good:
"Shout to the Lord 2000".
Reviewed by Wesley Cheong
© Wesley Cheong 1999