 
As a worship leader, Paul's unpretentious and approachable
style has encouraged many todraw near to God in worship. "I want
my music, and more importantly my life," Paul explains, "to
inspire people to pursue a sincere, authentic relationship with Christ."
For fourteen years Baloche has served as the Worship Pastor
at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas, where he lives
with his wife Rita and their three children.
One of the most prominent praise and worship songwriters
of our generation describes his writing as "journaling the process
of my walk with the Lord".
Dove Award-winning songwriter, Paul Baloche, has written
hundreds of songs that have been featured on a variety of albums including
the platinum selling WoW Worship CDs and the Time Life - Songs 4 Worship
series.
You have probably sung his songs in church or heard his
music on albums from well known artists such as Michael W. Smith, Sonicflood,
and Randy Travis. He has written many popular songs including, "Open
The Eyes Of My Heart", "Above All", "Praise Adonai",
"Offering", and "My Reward".
An accomplished songwriter, worship leader, and producer
for Integrity Music, Paul Baloche's album credits include "He Is
Faithful", "First Love", "Open The Eyes Of My Heart",
"God Of Wonders", and his most recent album, "Offering
Of Worship", a live worshipCD/DVD recorded at CBN's Regent University
in Virginia Beach. In addition to these recordings, he has produced
four albums for Maranatha! Music's Praise Band.
Through God's leading, he was introduced to Dan and Kelly
Willard, and later to Lenny LeBlanc. As a guitarist and vocalist, he
accompanied them on worship oriented concert tours. "Their lives
taught me so much about humility, honesty, and presenting a sincere
faith," says Paul.
"Paul Baloche has the hand of God on his songwriting
and worship leading. His music is a great gift to the Body of Christ."
This is kind of the desert island question. What are the
five ministry essentials you could not do without?" Love, humility,
commitment, a servant heart, laughter, transparency, and music (oops,
that makes seven).
You may not recognize the name, but you have no doubt
heard, and probably even sung, the songs of Paul Baloche. This is the
guy that wrote Michael W. Smith's current hit, "Above All" (with Lenny
LeBlanc), "Open The Eyes Of My Heart," and over one hundred other worship
songs.
Baloche himself co-produced God of Wonders with the production
team behind City On A Hill, Steve Hindalong and Marc Byrd. The result
is an earthy, acoustic album, that incorporates everything from guitar
and drums to mandolin, violin, and world rhythms.
Paul Baloche and his wife Rita wrote most of the songs
on the disc, with the others being comprised of classic hymns and modern
classic worship songs like the title track (although isn't it a sacrilege
of some kind to record that song without Mac Powell"). Rita Baloche
can also be heard contributing vocals to some of the songs, along with
Christine Glass.
Recorded live at the University of Texas Performing Arts
Center in Austin, God of Wonders is overall a pleasing album of mostly
brand-new worship choruses. I'm not sure if any of these will become
the classics that some of his past songs have enjoyed, but if any do,
my money is on "Stir Up A Hunger" and/or "But For Your Grace."
Perhaps the album's nicest touch is the fact that the
CD is also a CD-ROM, which includes a "video songbook," containing Baloche's
own teachings of guitar techniques for how to play the songs on the
album.
The latest and greatest release from Integrity's Hosanna!
Music imprint, God of Wonders is a lovely way to spend an hour, and
it should provide some good new material for church worship leaders.
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