Behold the Man

Praise to the Lord | For Unto Us
The Way to Love You | Lord Help Me Be
Nothing in this World | You Can Live Without Him
Hope to Carry On | Heaven in His Eyes

Since I've added the lyrics to this album to the webpage, there have been a number of people who have asked, "What's this Zion album? I'm the biggest Rich Mullins fan in the world and I thought I had *every* one of his releases!" So here is a little bit of an explanation. The story as well as I know it:

While Rich was attending Cincinnati Bible College in the late 1970's and early 1980's, he became actively involved in an organization called Zion Ministries. Among his activities there, he was formed a band that consisted of him and three other vocalists as well as several instrumentalists. They were very popular among college students, performing throughout the Ohio area for various colleges and churches. The singing quartet performed together throughout the late 1970's and had informally recorded a number of their songs. Through a grant from his uncle, they eventually were able to get some studio time to record an album, and in 1981 released this lp, Behold the Man. As far as I know, it was never distributed through normal channels (unless some local stores in Cincinnati were selling them) and was mainly sold to concert-goers after their shows. It was a copy of this album that ended up in the hands of Amy Grant's manager who took the song "Praise to the Lord" and had her record it for her Age to Age album. It became a very successful song for her, and Rich went on to establish a friendship with her that led to his first recording contract and his debut album that was recorded at her home.

The album is a group effort, and there is actually only one Rich solo on it. "Heaven in His Eyes" features Rich on vocals and piano, but all of the other selections feature the entire group singing or duets of the two men or two women. Audio clips are available for each song on the album along with the lyrics below.

Of the original members of the group Zion, only Rich decided to pursue a career in music. Beth Lutz is married, lives in Cincinnati, and works as a flight attendant. Tom Weimer is married and has two kids and lives near Dayton. Jenny Wesner is the mother of five and lives in Indianapolis. All of the singers, however, are still involved in the music programs of their local churches. (Thanks to Jenny for that info.)

Praise to the Lord

Rich Mullins
Exodus 15:1-19, Second Samuel 22:1-4
Psalm 65:5-13, Psalm 66:1-8, Psalm 98:1-9
Psalm 104:33-35, Psalm 147:1-8

Praise to the Lord
Come on everybody
Stand up and sing one more, "Hallelujah"
Give your praise to the Lord
I could never tell you just how much
Good that it's bound to do you
Just to sing

Anew
The song your heart learned to sing
When He first gave His life to you
Well life goes on and so must the song
You gotta sing again the song born in your soul when
You first gave your heart to Him
Sing His praises once more

Give your praise to the Lord
Come on everybody
Stand up and sing one more, "Hallelujah"
Give your praise to the Lord
I could never tell you just how much
Good that it's bound to do you
Just to sing

Aloud the song that someone is dying
To hear down in the madding crowd
That you once were before you heard the song
You gotta let them know that the truth
Is a light to shine upon the way that maybe they can go
To sing His praises once more

Give your praise to the Lord
Come on everybody
Stand up and sing one more, "Hallelujah"
Give your praise to the Lord
I could never tell you just how much
Good that it's bound to do you

Just to sing (Sing sing sing)
The praises of the Lord (Sing sing sing)
And everybody sing (Sing sing sing)
The praises of the Lord (Sing sing sing)

From the rising of the sun
To the place where it sets
The name of the Lord is to be praised
The Lord is exalted over all the nations
And His glory above the heavens
And who is like the Lord our God
The One who sits enthroned on high
He who stoops to look down upon
Down upon the earth and its sky

And that is why you gotta give
Your praise to the Lord
Come on everybody
Stand up and sing one more, "Hallelujah"
Give your praise to the Lord
I could never tell you just how much
Good that it's bound to do you

Just to let the name of the Lord
Be praised both for now and ever more
Praise Him oh ye servants

Praise the name of the Lord
Come on everybody
Stand up and sing one more, "Hallelujah"
Give your praise to the Lord
I could never tell you just how much
Good that it's bound to do you

Just to sing (Sing sing sing)
The praises of the Lord (Sing sing sing)
And everybody sing (Sing sing sing)
The praises of the Lord (Sing sing sing)

For Unto Us

Rich Mullins
Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 40:26-31

For unto us a child has been born
(For unto us a child has been born)
And unto us a son is given
The Lord has lifted up salvation's horn
(The Lord has lifted up salvation's horn)
And in the east the Son is risen
With healing in His wings

So let us humbly stand beneath the cleansing flood
And be immersed in the love that freely flows
His light will shine and we won't stumble in the dark
So take His words and carve them on your souls

For unto us a child has been born
(For unto us a child has been born)
And unto us a Son is given
The Lord has lifted up salvation's horn
(The Lord has lifted up salvation's horn)
And in the east the Son is risen
With healing in His wings

We'll mount on eagles wings and we'll run and not grow tired
And He will take us higher as we soar
He'll send His spirit and will there renew our strength
We'll walk and not grow faint forevermore

For unto us a child has been born
(For unto us a child has been born)
And unto us a son is given
The Lord has lifted up salvation's horn
(The Lord has lifted up salvation's horn)
And in the east the Son has risen
With healing in his wings

The Way to Love You

Rich Mullins
Matthew 7:13-14 Philippians 3:7-12

Please take me with You walking
I'm ready to walk now with You
The path that You follow is narrow and straight
It leads beyond worlds I once knew

Please take me with You walking
My feet are so anxious to go
This slumber is empty and so far from the world
So far from the world that You know

Take me I'm Yours and I'm wanting to know
All You are and what I am when I am with You
Take me Jesus, without You I know I am lost
And I need You to show me the way
The way to love You

Please take me with You dancing
I'm ready to follow Your steps
I've waltzed with wonders in armor that's shined
All polished and properly kept

Please take me with You dancing
These illusions all left behind
I'll take the feeling of life in my arms
Where once I felt left behind

Take me I'm Yours and I'm wanting to know
All You are and what I am when I am with You
Take me Jesus, without You I know I am lost
And I need You to show me the way
The way to love You

Though the deserts find me a-thirsting there
If You lead me, I'll follow anywhere
Though the oceans toss me about in rage
I will walk with You over every wave

Call me and I'll wake from this tiring sleep
Let me know just one gratifying need
And when life is done and the dance is through
I will know the joy
Of having needed You

Please take me with You laughing
Knowing that life was well lived
Having had hungered for all that You are
There with You I will be filled

Please take me with You Jesus
I'm ready to join in the song
Morning is breaking
The silence is stirred
Life has only begun

Lord Help Me Be

Rich Mullins
Psalm 119:26-37, Matthew 6:19-21, Second Peter 3:9-13

Lord help me be what You want me to be
Being Yours is all that I want (all that I want)
Your line is tight as a kite string
And higher than the harmony in heaven's sweet song

I tried to do it myself, but it left me stranded
So many directions and no way to go
The cards I was dealt made a promising hand
But never got me into the show
(Never got me into the show)
But You give life to these dying songs
Sharp as a knife to clean the marrow to the bone

Lord help me be what You want me to be
'Cause being Yours is all that I want (all that I want)
Your line is tight as a kite string
And higher than the harmony in heaven's sweet song

I looked after my luck so my soul would play the game
But you knew the rules so much better
The moth and the rust will eventually claim
Everything I took as my treasure
(Everything I took as my treasure)
But in You I have riches this world can't corrupt
So help me believe it and trust in Your love (Love sweet love)

Lord help me be what You want me to be
'Cause being Yours is all that I want (all that I want)
Your line is tight as a kite string
And higher than the harmony in heaven's sweet song

Oh Lord (Oh Lord)
Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
You never meant for us to go it alone
I am so coarse (I'm so coarse)
The world's so cheap (This world's so cheap)
It's nothing like anyplace you'd want to call home (Home)
Home, home

Lord help me be what You want me to be
'Cause being Yours is all that I want
Your line is tight as a kite string
And higher than the harmony in heaven's sweet song

Lord help me be what You want me to be
'Cause being Yours is all that I want (all that I want)
Your line is tight as a kite string
And higher than the harmony in heaven's sweet song

Lai, lai, lai, lai, lai, lai, lai, lai, la

Nothing in this World

Rich Mullins
Colossians 1:3-6, Acts 8:17-24

Is there something in your eye that looks like anger
Is it loneliness that made you be that hard
Still the lights from that far shore
Seem to linger in the blood beneath those scars

And it's not easy to remember in the city
That there's Someone who's still lighting the stars
And that there's

Nothing in this world shines brighter than the hope of heaven
No love that can touch you deeply as His
Nothing big enough to keep you down unless you let it
Nothing you can buy or sell that's good as what He freely gives

I feel the wind cut through the alley just to slice you
Like a razor running down your veins
How the devil uses hatred to entice you
Don't play a losing hand in his game

Don't give up when all the others seem to mock you
Though you feel your spirit's starting to wane
Because there's

Nothing in this world shines brighter than the hope of heaven
No love that can touch you deeply as His
Nothing big enough to keep you down unless you let it
Nothing you can buy or sell that's good as what He freely gives

Nobody knows where and how much it hurts
Better than the One who's been there
Nobody's been there more than the Lord

And when all those aches say to quit
The answer's look up ahead
And you can't go back now
There's nothing to go back for

Is growth worth the growing pains
(I can't go back, too much on the line)
But now that you're running
Look at the strength you've gained
(Look at the junk I've been able to leave behind)

None was worth it's weight
It tied me down too long
I've thrown it off
I won't take it back on
It back on
(Cause I'm doing it one better)
Leave behind the hate
(I'm going one up)
Hate did you no good
(I'm gonna leave behind the devil)
Wasn't worth it's weight
(I'm going to hang on to His love)

Nothing in this world shines brighter than the hope of heaven
No love that can touch you deeply as His
Nothing big enough to keep you down unless you let it
Nothing you can buy or sell that's good as what He freely gives

Nothing in this world shines brighter than the hope of heaven
No love that can touch you deeply as His
Nothing big enough to keep you down unless you let it
Nothing you can buy or sell that's good as what He freely gives

Nothing in this world shines brighter than the hope of heaven
No love that can touch you deeply as His
Nothing big enough to keep you down unless you let it
Nothing you can buy or sell that's good as what He freely gives

You Can Live Without Him

Rich Mullins
Ephesians 2, John 3:1-21

Oh, and you better run 'cause His love is catching you
And you're scared that when it does its gonna break through
You build your house of dreams behind a wall
That no one could penetrate
And you leave yourself no escape
No chance to be made new

Oh, and you better stand with your fist clenched to the sky
'Cause open handed you're afraid of what you may find
You've got it all or so you want to think
But anyway you'd much rather pretend
It's too much to run the risk
When you can simply close your eyes

And you can live without Him
You can live without Him if you want
You can turn your back on music
Turn your back on love
Tuck your tail and run

'Cause you're good at looking down, never seeing a thing
You're good at being touched and never feeling
You're good at sitting in the midst of a music that's never heard
But you're not as good at living as you thought you were

But you can live
(You can live without Him)
If that's what living is
(You can live without Him)
Death would be such a gift
Oh Lord, let me die that I might find my life in You

You can live without Him
You can live without Him if you want
But that is so much less
Than any life that I could ever choose

Oh, and you better fill the empty spaces with some noise
'Cause if you look too squarely at the facts
You might have to make a choice
You'd better put off 'til tomorrow
Maybe then you'll be more in control
Somehow tonight this feeling
Stole into you and left you soiled

Oh, and you throw it off before you see beyond the day
There may very well be more
But not right now, don't let it in
And if you don't let it root
You'll never have to let it make you grow
It's more life than you want to know
So shut it down again

And you can live without Him
(You can live without Him)
You can live without Him if you want
You can turn your back on music
Turn your back on love
Tuck your tail and run

'Cause you're good at looking down, never seeing a thing
You're good at being touched and never feeling
You're good at sitting in the midst of a music that's never heard
But you're not as good at living as you thought you were

But you can live
(You can live without Him)
If that's what living is
(You can live without Him)
Death would be such a gift
Oh Lord let me die
That I might find my life in You

You can live without Him
You can live without Him if you want
But that is so much less than any life
I could ever choose

Hope to Carry On

Rich Mullins
Matthew 10:12-14, Matthew 26:51-53, Matthew 27:33-54, Mark 15:22-39
Luke 22:49-51, Luke 23:33-47, John 17:18-30, John 18:10-11
Ephesians 3:17-19, Colossians 1:19-23, First John 3:16

I can see Jesus hanging on a cross
I can see Jesus hanging on a cross
Oh, I can see Jesus hanging on a cross
He came looking for the lost

And love has come
Love has come
Love has come
And given me hope to carry on

I can hear Jesus saying Father forgive (Father forgive)
I can hear Jesus saying Father forgive (Father forgive them)
I can hear Jesus saying Father forgive
And what a thing He did

Love has come
Love has come
Love has come
And given me hope to carry on

And I can see love
Love is all I want to see
It can make a beggar rich
It can set a prisoner free
I know He can do it for you
God knows He did it for me

And I can see love
And love is all I want to show you
Love
Love's the only way to go
And love
But love is all a man might need to know
This I know

And you know Peter put away his sword
I can see Peter putting away his sword
Well I can see Peter put away his sword
He won't fight no more

Love has come
Love has come
Love has come
And given me hope to carry on
To carry on
To carry on

Heaven in His Eyes

Rich Mullins
Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 4:1, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 8:49-55

See the Teacher sitting on a mountain
And see Him walking along the shore
His friends and disciples are gathering around Him
Never spake a man like this before

But why is a man as wise as He
Weeping alone in Gethsemane
Could it be because He's afraid we'd never see
The heaven in His eyes

See the Master walking on the water
And hear Him speak and calm an angry wave
Look at Him raising of Jairus's daughter
And with a word Lazarus comes forth from the grave

And why is a man is strong as this
Being betrayed by a good friend's kiss
Could it be because this man missed
The heaven in His eyes

And I'm not talking about your pie in the sky
That you good boys and girls get in the by and by
But rather the strength that we could find
If you've got the guts to try

See the Teacher playing with the children
And see Him baffle the doctors of the law
Look at the people gathering to go with Him
Those who see the vision that He saw

And this is why a man as holy as He
Had to die alone on Calvary
Cause it was the only way we could ever see
The heaven in His eyes

And heaven's in His eyes

And heaven's in His eyes
And heaven's in His eyes



All songs by Meadowgreen Music, Inc. 1981


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