Here's a list of the worship songs most performed in churches as of September 2004 as reported by CCLI . Issac Watts makes a comeback with "The Wonderful Cross" after 298 years - congratulations, Issac!

Following are the Top 25 songs reported by churches in their Copy Activity Reports, as used for the February 2005 royalty payout (for surveys returned between April 1, 2004 and September 30, 2004) - United States
RANK	SONG TITLE	AUTHOR/S	CCLI #
1	Here I Am To Worship	Hughes, Tim	3266032
2	Open The Eyes Of My Heart	Baloche, Paul	2298355
3	Lord I Lift Your Name On High	Founds, Rick	117947
4	Shout To The Lord	Zschech, Darlene	1406918
5	Come Now Is The Time To Worship	Doerksen, Brian	2430948
6	You Are My King	Foote, Billy	2456623
7	Forever	Tomlin, Chris	3148428
8	God Of Wonders	Byrd, Marc \ Hindalong, Steve	3118757
9	You Are My All In All	Jernigan, Dennis	825356
10	Breathe	Barnett, Marie	1874117
11	You're Worthy Of My Praise	Ruis, David	487976
12	The Heart Of Worship	Redman, Matt	2296522
13	Trading My Sorrows	Evans, Darrell	2574653
14	Above All	LeBlanc, Lenny \ Baloche, Paul	2672885
15	We Fall Down	Tomlin, Chris	2437367
16	I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever	Smith, Martin	1043199
17	Blessed Be Your Name	Redman, Beth \ Redman, Matt	3798438
18	Draw Me Close	Carpenter, Kelly	1459484
19	Better Is One Day	Redman, Matt	1097451
20	Lord Reign In Me	Brown, Brenton	2490706
21	I Give You My Heart	Morgan, Reuben	1866132
22	As The Deer	Nystrom, Martin	1431
23	Shine Jesus Shine	Kendrick, Graham	30426
24	The Wonderful Cross	Reeves, Jesse \ Tomlin, Chris \ Walt, J. D. \ Watts, Isaac	3148435
25	I Love You Lord	Klein, Laurie	25266

Now, here's the same chart for a period two years earlier.

Following are the Top 25 songs reported by churches in their Copy Activity Reports, as used for the February 2003 royalty payout (for surveys returned between April 1, 2002 and September 30, 2002) - United States
RANK	SONG TITLE	AUTHOR/S	CCLI #
1	Lord I Lift Your Name On High	Founds, Rick	117947
2	Shout To The Lord	Zschech, Darlene	1406918
3	Open The Eyes Of My Heart	Baloche, Paul	2298355
4	Come Now Is The Time To Worship	Doerksen, Brian	2430948
5	Breathe	Barnett, Marie	1874117
6	You Are My All In All	Jernigan, Dennis	825356
7	As The Deer	Nystrom, Martin	1431
8	I Love You Lord	Klein, Laurie	25266
9	I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever	Smith, Martin	1043199
10	Awesome God	Mullins, Rich	41099
11	The Heart Of Worship	Redman, Matt	2296522
12	Shine Jesus Shine	Kendrick, Graham	30426
13	Majesty	Hayford, Jack	1527
14	Trading My Sorrows	Evans, Darrell	2574653
15	Change My Heart Oh God	Espinosa, Eddie	1565
16	You Are My King	Foote, Billy James	2456623
17	Sanctuary	Thompson, John W. \ Scruggs, Randy	24140
18	Draw Me Close	Carpenter, Kelly	1459484
19	Above All	LeBlanc, Lenny \ Baloche, Paul	2672885
20	My Life Is In You	Gardner, Daniel	17315
21	Give Thanks	Smith, Henry	20285
22	He Is Exalted	Paris, Twila	17827
23	Better Is One Day	Redman, Matt	1097451
24	We Fall Down	Tomlin, Chris	2437367
25	He Has Made Me Glad	Von Brethorst, Leona	1493

The top 9 songs are still on the chart in 2005, with a total of 17 out 25 songs still on the above chart.

Artists of excellence you need to listen to:

Andrew Peterson
Jill Paquette
Sara Groves
Joel Hanson
Chris Rice
Fernando Ortega
Watermark
Switchfoot

Some verses I need to consider when performing or writing music:

"Next David and the worship leaders selected some from the family of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for special service in preaching and music. Here is the roster of names and assignments: From the family of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah; they were supervised by Asaph, who spoke for GOD backed up by the king's authority. From the family of Jeduthun there were six sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah; they were supervised by their father Jeduthun, who preached and accompanied himself with the zither--he was responsible for leading the thanks and praise to GOD. From the family of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. These were the sons of Heman the king's seer; they supported and assisted him in his divinely appointed work. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. Under their father's supervision they were in charge of leading the singing and providing musical accompaniment in the work of worship in the sanctuary of God (Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman took their orders directly from the king). They were well-trained in the sacred music, all of them masters. There were 288 of them." - 1 Chronicles 25:1-7 (The Message)

"David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals...  The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth , and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith . Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it." - 1 Chronicles 15:16,19-22 (NIV)

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)