A Liturgy, A Legacy & A Ragamuffin Band

This album came out the same year my wife and I were led to a life changing relationship to the Lord. Scientists, we were surrounded by the "stuff of earth". Yet the Lord broke though and nothing has been the same since. God sent many amazing people into our lives, disciples and friends, to be sure we had amazing examples. I never met Rich, but he became one of my deepest friends. His music is honest, deep and so completely personal. So many songs must have been written just for me. I first heard Liturgy soon after receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I was stunned. I didn't realize Christian music could be so real. It was my first CCM album and I now have a deep collection of music, but Liturgy is still the greatest album, CCM or secular, I've ever owned. Thanks Rich! I can't wait to finally meet you.

Growing up in a Christian household meant for me being confined to Christian music, for the most part. Growing older, now 40, I’ve lived a bit and come to enjoy many other things as well in the secular realm. This album, however, is still in my top 5 and always will be. I believe Mullins’ ability was one of a kind and that his type of songwriting power comes around once in a thousand years. I think his abilities are nowhere more consistently evident than on this release.

I love, love, love this album!!! Every song is great. It is my all time favorite!!!!

Very rarely do we see an artist with such ability to write such beautiful music. When Rich Mullins went to be with the Lord we lost a great worship leader. Yet Rich was much more than a worship leader, Rich lived out his live though his faith and it reflected in his music. If you are not familiar with the faith he lived out thought Jesus Christ, then I would encourage you too.

I have gotten stuck on this album again, 17 years later. You can hear the mysteries of God (not the answers, mind you) in Rich's piano and dulcimer playing. All of these songs have incredible strength and listening to it from start to finish is haunting, beautiful, and worshipful. Incidentally, "How To Grow Up Big and Strong" was written by Mark Heard (a largely undiscovered musical treasure in Christendom) who also died an untimely death the year before this record was released. This album transcends culture, trend, and time.

I met Rich in 1987 at a christian camp. He was my most favorite artist at the time, and when I found out he was coming to the camp, I was so happy to meet my idol.lol. What I found was a simple man with a great heart who truly loved his music. I actually got to sing with him during one of his impromtu concerts and got to lead worship a couple of times with him singing. It was the happiest days of my life. We kept in touch over the years, and I was overseas in the Navy when he met his untimely end. I never got to say goodbye, but I hope one day to say hello again, my friend.

This is the best investment I've made through the iTunes Store, to date: a contemporary Christian masterpiece that seems to have a tiny bit of Celtic influence here and there. The only song here I don't love is the "rocker", How to Grow Up Big & Strong, which by no coincidence is the only song on the album Rich didn't write. But the other 11 songs much more than make up for it! 78 Eatonwood is an amazing instrumental.

Rich's best studio album (he's at his absolute best on the Jesus Record demos). "Peace (A Communion Blessing) is worth the price of the entire album, but every other track on here is incredible.