until we see the cross
In a recent thread on Hillsongs, Geoff Bullock has been commenting. Geoff is the author of many of the early Hillsongs worship songs - and perhaps some of the more well known one from the early days.
Nigel mentioned that he went to a Geoff Bullock concert/singalong at the Crossway Baptist many years ago and was struck by a song that he has never seen in the Hillsongs cd’s.
Geoff has kindly emailed it and given permission for it to be posted to signposts. He also has emailed several of his well known worship songs that he has updated to “reflect how much my understanding of grace has changed”. I will post them up in a series over the next few days.
Geoff has said he would be happy to discuss each songs. So, feel free to comment on the theology and engage Geoff in this.
Here is that unpublished song:
UNTIL WE SEE THE CROSS
Geoff Bullock 1999
Verse One:
Before we sing again, before we dance again,
Let our souls be still and silent.
Let’s just stop a while, to pause and pray awhile,
To look and hear again,
Let our songs be still till then.
Verse Two:
Let our dreams be more than building towers that fall.
All our works his cross has silenced.
And as our hearts are healed, let our songs reveal
His grace so undeserved,
These songs can now be heard.
Chorus:
Until we see the cross, until we feel the pain
Until we see the scars
that pierced grace to our shame.
Until we see again,
let our songs be still ‘till then.
Verse Three:
When we see his face, through our broken faith:
Mercy triumphs over judgement.
Wounded hands reveal, only love can heal
The brokeness we share,
Only wounded hearts can care.
Chorus:
Until we see the cross, until we feel the pain
Until we see the scars
that pierced grace to our shame.
Until we see again,
let our songs be still ‘till then.
August 25th, 2005 at 9:23 pm
To this day my favorite Hillsong songs are “The Heavens Shall Declare” and “Blessing, Honour”
I look forward to seeing the updated lyrics for some of Geoff’s older songs as these lyrics here, really do show that his “understanding of grace has changed” It is quite heartening to see that Geoff has been on a journey which has led him to a better understanding of grace and what the gospel is all about.
August 25th, 2005 at 9:54 pm
BTW I totally agree with Lance’s comments from the other thread regarding this.
“they have been made deaf and blind to grace. Totally gives me the shits. If only the church could stop singing and dancing and attending conferences.” - Geoff Bullock
Every church in Australia needs to hear this.
August 25th, 2005 at 11:07 pm
Every church in America needs to hear it as well. What a great song, would love to hear it, anyway to get it online bro?
the rev
August 26th, 2005 at 10:27 am
also wondering where i might find this - or chords maybe? thanks! beautiful…
August 26th, 2005 at 10:55 am
You’re a good man, Geoff.
August 26th, 2005 at 12:36 pm
It’s a fabulous irony singing a song about not singing.
August 26th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
Yes that was the song. Thank you very much Geoff (and Phil & DJ for posting it).
Now that I have the words all I need to do is find out where I can send a contribution and receive a copy of print music. Has ‘Watershed’ published it?
It was powerful to hear it sung by someone who had left their job with the most prominant singing church in Australia and was about to take a break from performing. Hopefully after your period of ’silence’ Geoff, it will be time once more let your voice be heard and reveal God’s grace so undeserved in some new songs.
In the meantime, I am looking forward to seeing some of your back catelog reworked here on Signposts.
My favorite Bullock song has always been “This Kingdom”. The chorus might be power chords to words of “power” and “authority” yet they were God’s power (not ours) and in the context of a verse that talked about God’s love be expressed and God’s grace being revealed to us.
August 27th, 2005 at 1:02 am
we’ve been using his rewrites for a while here, particularly at kippax uca, but also in a few other places, i think its caused some confusion with some people, but ive been able to have some great discussions with people re what the change in words and terms could mean theologically and personally.
August 27th, 2005 at 1:24 am
Thank you all so much… I can’t tell you how much your comments mean to me. I have recorded “Untill we see the cross” as a solo piano/vocal piece. I will send it to this site as an mp3, and you can do as you wish with it. There are also a number of new songs that i could make available if that helps. Darren, where is kippax uca. I would be really interested in the reponses from your congregation.
August 28th, 2005 at 12:53 am
Geoff,
I’m a part of the UCa as a youtha nd family worker for the canberra region, we pinched your rewrites from South sustralia after you spoke at their EARTH gig last year, as I’m originally from there.
A few congregations have used the rewrites over here, the one I’ve seen used more often, because I’ve “preached” there on a few occasions has been Kippax in Canberra (http://www.kippax.org.au)
The rewrites has confused a few people who weren’t “familiar” with your story and took a while for some people to get used to but it hink theyve warmed to them. Last fortnight i preached and they suggested HFIG and we used the rewrite version.
I think they’re more real, as someone who had issues singing the original versions I find that i can relate better to the rewrites. anyhow, teh church’s website is in the comment above, give me a hoi on email if youd like.
Shalom
September 26th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
[…] ff! You can view them all here Alternatively, here is a index of all the song rewrites. Until we see the cross […]
January 27th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Geoff,
Really enjoyed the depth of understanding communicated in your re-writes.
January 28th, 2006 at 5:38 am
thank you so much Grace
January 28th, 2006 at 7:11 am
Hey Geoff - have you seen the movie”walk the Line” about Johnny Cash and June Carter - Lot’s of mercy in it. I think you might like it.
February 23rd, 2006 at 3:22 pm
For Lent (which starts next week) I was thinking about how well this song lyric would go as a poem recited at worship each week - maybe in place of where we would usually have a song.
Phil, do we have the mp3 version of it Geoff offered?
February 23rd, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Sorry, I’m so slack, I haven’t sent it through to Phil..
I must do something about it, but, it’s not with me at the moment, when I get back to Sydney I get onto it
February 26th, 2006 at 7:42 am
Thanks Geoff
April 15th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
[…] Until we see the cross Have faith in God You rescued me The power of your love The heavens shall declare Just let me say This Kingdom/His Kingdom The power and the glory The great south-land The stone’s been rolled away I will never be Mercy/Glory Refresh my heart […]