Customer Reviews

Winds Of Heaven, Stuff Of Earth

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rich Mullins is my favorite singer/songwriter. It is very likely that he will be always. I love all his albums-he didn't make mediocre music. "Winds of Heaven...Stuff of Earth" is one of his more unique albums.

I must admit that I come to this album carrying previous biases. I came to faith in Christ a couple of weeks after Rich left this world. I had no idea who Rich Mullins was or even that he had gone home. In the following months I joined the choir at our church. As I learned the songs that we sang every week I came to notice that Rich Mullins had written several of my favorites. It was only when I went to purchase one of his CD's that I learned of his passing. I was very surprised. I found out later that he had played at our church only about a month before the accident.

As I have slowly collected Rich's CD's I have been struck by their consistent excellence. Having recently read James Bryan Smith's wonderful biography of Rich, I now see that this excellence sprung from Rich's intense love for God. That love is evident on this disc. As is usual with Rich's recordings, this disc is filled with great songs.

Of all Rich Mullins' CD's, "Winds of Heaven...Stuff of Earth" has my favorite opening song: "The Other Side of the World" (and that's saying something...Rich has a whole lot of great opening songs on his discs.) "The Other Side of the World" is an awesome song. It is a prayer for the coming of God's Kingdom.

This disc also contains "Awesome God" which has become a worship classic (and was one of the songs we sang a lot in choir.) I said previously that I come biased to this disc...one reason was because of the fact that I had sung a lot of these songs before I heard them here. The other reason was that I bought the "Songs" album before this one. That brings me to the song "If I Stand". "If I Stand" was one of my favorite songs on "Songs". It is also one of my favorite songs on this disc. It is one of the best songs I've ever heard about the power of God's love and grace. In Isaiah 49:15-16 God speaks to Jerusalem (and in a sense to all who would later be called by His name) saying, "Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me." This is the kind of watchful, loving grace that Rich managed to at least partially (and beautifully) describe on "If I Stand".

Other songs that I really like from "Winds of Heaven...Stuff of Earth" are: "Home" which is one of those beautiful songs that only Rich could write-using the imagery of creation to describe and praise God; "Such a Thing as Glory" which is one of the more musically interesting songs on the disc; "...And I Love You" a great song about baptism, communion and loving God; "Ready for the Storm" is probably my favorite song on the disc. It was written by Dougie MacLean; who is an awesome singer/songwriter in his own right. I was recently introduced to his music by a friend. It is good stuff too (check it out if you get the chance).

I recommend this album. It is a great one. Admittedly, it is not my favorite Rich Mullins album, but Rich sure made it hard to choose just one.

It is very difficult to choose which of Rich's albums to recommend for new listeners. Each of his albums has some amazing, life-changing songs (yes, many of his songs have forced me out of my comfortable Christian life and into something more). This CD is one of the great ones. Don't just buy it for "Awesome God" and "If I Stand." There is so much more to this album. "With the Wonder" will open your eyes to nature and God's creativity. "The Other Side of the World" paints a picture of the worldwide church and tells us that "the distance just dissolves into the love." The chorus of this song is inspiring:

"And I see the people who have learned to walk in faith, with mercy in their hearts and glory on their faces. And I can see the people, and I pray it won't be long until your kingdom comes."

And for the struggling ragamuffins, there are the songs "Home" and "Ready for the Storm," encouraging, true songs about the darkness and the light. The more I listen to my Mullins collection, the more I realize that there is no one best album of Rich's. And the compilations aren't enough. Start your collection. Buy one a month if you can. The songs never get old (I've been listening for ten years).

Both songs Awesome God and If I stand are masterpieces of Rich Mullins. These songs speak to me every time I listen to it and the message never gets old. In the short while that Rich Mullins was here the Lord used him mightily through his music and lyrics. This CD should certainly be in your collection.

I purchased this album first in 1988 at a Rich Mullins Concert at a small baptist church. Thisis excellent contemporary worship music. I now have an extensive collection of his work, this album is among the best.

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Track listings:
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1. Other Side of the World, The
2. With the Wonder
3. Awesome God
4. If I Stand
5. Home
6. Such a Thing as Glory
7. ...and I Love You
8. Ready for the Storm
9. One True Love
10. How Can I Keep Myself from Singing

"Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth", was the first tape I ever bought of Rich's. It has the classic, "Awesome God", on it. But that song is just one of many on this CD to be treasured. This is the Rich music I was introduced to, thus beginning my long time fascination with him as an awesome singer/song writer/poet, but even more importantly, as a child of God trying to find his way. Every home should have this CD. The lyrics inspire and comfort me, even to this day.

Rich's songwriting always blows me away! This earlier CD is no exception. It has a ton of awesome songs. How Can I Keep Myself From Singing is one of the best songs I've ever heard. Definately a CD worth having.

Rich Mullins / winds of heaven, stuff of earth: This is a good album. Rich would go on to create better albums, but this one has the best Praise song ever written, "Awesome God". The whole album is enjoyable, but this is essential just for that one magnificent song.

I use 2 have all Rich Mullens CD until i wore them out!!! Was so glad 2 renew my collection!!!

I cannot believe that Rich Mullins' music isn't so famous in Finland. "Awesome God" and "If I Stand" are one of the best songs I've ever heard. Also the opening track is a fantastic song. And the rest seven songs...you have to hear them by yourself. Because my friend...Rich Mullins was in the turning of 80's to 90's as good as Larry Norman was in the beginnin of 70's. So be ready for the storm...