“All because of you
All because of you
All because of you
I am… I am”

It’s like a prayer of simplicity, yet depth. All because of you, Yahweh. Yet all because of You, I am.

Mysterious Ways continues to be one of the most provocative songs of all time, not just because of the element of human sensuality, but the exploration of who the Holy Spirit is and the role of the Spirit in the Trinity and in our lives. (And perhaps, could we even go so far to explore thinking about God and sensuality at the same time? That’s another topic though…)

“Let her talk about the things you can’t explain.
To touch is to heal, to hurt is to steal.
If you want to kiss the sky, better learn how to kneel…
One day you’ll look back, and you’ll see
Where you were held now by this love.”

My top 5:

1. Grace – (ATYCLB) Mike Crowther summed it up well….grace “travels outside of karma” – wonderful.

2. Hawkmoon 269 – (Rattle & Hum) I’m not sure who Bono is singing this to, but the intense longing in the words “I need your love” is as strong here as in any of their songs…..this song reminds of “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel – they both may have been written about girls (at least in part) but they can certainly be sung to the Lord – both have tremendous passion.

3. 40 – (War) this song uses the Psalms to tie in themes from the rest of the album – “I will sing a new song” and “I will begin again (New Years Day)” and “how long to sing this song” with Sunday Bloody Sunday (as was mentioned by others here)…wonderful in concert too – as worshipful a moment as found in any Christian concert I’ve attended.

4. When Love Came to Town (Rattle & Hum)….I used this song in the “How to write your personal testimony” class I teach at church. The song depicts the elements of one’s testimony – before Christ – “I did what I did before love came to town” and conversion – “I’ve seen love conquer the great divide.”

5. Still Haven’t Found what I’m Looking For (Rattle & Hum)…..the Harlem choir version in particular…..spiritual longing at its most earnest

*”Scarlet,” for its meditative quality

*”New Year’s Day,” for both the incredible sense of eucatastrophe (to borrow my favorite “word” from Tolkien) and its counterbalancing now/not yet theme

*”Dirty Day,” for how it nails human beings’ alienation toward each other and God

*”The Unforgettable Fire,” for its intimate mysticism and allusions to the Psalms

*”Heartland,” for its rich poetry and strange sudden mystical connection of a country’s belief with Christ’s crucifixion (“Into the side of love/Like a burning spear [spirit?]“)

*”The Fly,” for being the most thought-provoking and concise summation of the fall of humanity and its effects that I’ve ever found

*”The Wanderer,” for its complex poetry and for how it nails the sinfulness and rebellion against God that characterizes all of us at some point in our lives (“I went out there/In search of experience/To taste and to touch/And to feel as much/As a man can before he repents” — Yep, that nails it)

*”Drowning Man,” for its emotion and biblical imagery, and because it was the song that sucked me into U2 fandom

*”Lemon,” for being a devastating look at humanity’s plight without God and daring to ask the question, “What will satisfy us?” (and then daring not to answer)

*”Miss Sarajevo,” for its incredible use of a twist on a phrase from Ecclesiastes to tell a heartbreaking story

*”Until the End of the World,” for its hope for redemption and Bono’s anguished cry to/for “love, love, love …”

For last supper I just think about “Until the End of the World”

“Tomorrow” would rock as a Holy Saturday song.