the journey of faith

If Jesus is right
“this is a conversation between two men.  One who calls Jesus Lord, and one who is not sure what to call Him.  It’s also a question for everyone. Who is Lord of your life?”

Who is this man you say you know
The one they call the living Word
Man all flesh but God in one
It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard
You’re telling stories that you read he’d walk on water then raise the dead
He lived a long long time ago
Yet you say his love is easy to know

So who is Lord of your life
Better find out before it turns night
Cause some will put themselves right up on that throne
It’s a choice that is your own
If Jesus is right

2000 years gone by real fast
since they wrote about you last
but I need you real I need you now
to know though lost I’ll be found
so gentle shepherd come and lead
this tired and worn out hope spent sheep
and put your touch upon my soul
do what you said you would and make me whole

son of God son of man
they say you stretched out your hands
took on death face to face
offered love and life in it’s place

Justice and Amour
“this is one of the first of what I call, short story songs.  It’s a picture of God’s justice and His love being united.  We are often comfortable with a God of love.  But mention justice or judgement and we cry, inhumanity.  I was down to two hours before this song had been written and I began to pray and ask God to give me some way to write about this topic of judgement. What I received was a picture of “justice”, a man, walking and holding hands with “love”, a woman.  So, I renamed her to not be too confusing lyrically, and this song or should I say story poured out.”

Here’s a story of love that lasts
The kind where opposites attract
And never wish to leave cause they’ve made such a match
That the whole world around them must change
Or live in the fury of the past
They called him justice her name amour
Their passion formed before this earth
Inseparable lovers they walked on clouds
And proved to all this could work
But the people of this world had a better plan
They would break those two up
Then send amour on a few blind dates
With greed and maybe lust
But amour wouldn’t have anything to do with their lies
Their pleas just couldn’t contend
To the love she had known, that’s when they knew
That to split up true love one’s life must end

The town’s people said we just can’t get enough
And the reigns of justice hold us up
So we’ll keep amour and just change her a bit
But as for old justice his time is up

So there was a choice that amour had to make
She knew only a life would appease
She begged the heavens to care for her man
And help the world to see
That love without justice isn’t love at all
Cause love will always demand what’s right
But watch when old justice takes you by the neck
And shows you amour laying down her life
Justice was not her only purpose for dying that night
Out of the love that she is she died
So we could have life

So will the townspeople see the price that was paid
I’m afraid only you can decide
But one thing you can’t and never will do
Is separate love from justice’s side
Not even death could do it  that night

Letters
“this is a song about the Bible.  It is portrayed as God speaking to us about His purpose for the Bible, and His desire for us to find out who He is through it.”

You say you have not seen my face
You can’t remember the last time or place
Photographs don’t do me well
But there’s some stories I’d love to tell
Cause I knew you before you were made
Ain’t it funny how a life can change
But don’t drop your head or shame those eyes
Cause all your sins are washed in time

If you ever needed just to see
That there are love letter’s written straight from me
Then put aside your doubts begin to read
Let the truth be told and fears relieved
As my words begin to breathe

So read me now read me then
Be my foe be my friend
But you could never change my love
The past was written with my blood
The future’s calling you above
Today can’t wait to be enough
To fill you up

You say
They made you laugh they made you cry
Made your tummy tangle up inside
They put you on the edge of your seat
You’d raise your brow then stomp your feet
They turned a page in your life
And showed you purpose in the darkest night
When all your friends had all gone home
You sat there quiet but never alone

My only chance
“this is a song about our human struggle with sin and satisfaction.  The first half is what it looks like to try and satisfy our souls with sin.  The second half is all about what it is to seek God to satisfy our needs.  It is a close comparison, with broad differences.”

Dance in my mind
Entertain my soul
And soothe me deep down
Deep down inside my bones
Sing of a new life
Draw me in real slow
Make the chains ready
Turn my heart to the cold

And this must be my only chance
To feel like I can breathe again
So numb my pain from who I
Who I really am
Dim the lights so low
To hide the corners of my sin
This is life this is me and I give in

I’ll break the chains that bind you
Tear your walls down
I won’t rest till I get you
Safe from the sound
of condemnation away from its fiery breath
Cause you’ve been burned so badly
But I can heal if you’ll confess

And this is my only chance
To know that I can breathe again
So please heal my pain to the depths
Of who I really am
Turn the lights up high
Reveal the corners of my sin
You are life you pay debt’s
It’s time I give in

Trainman
“I always tell people this is a song about Hosea’s call,  Jonah’s response, and a train.  This song is about the call of God to be open to relationship with Him and others.  It’s about being willing to follow Him even if it will seemingly ruin our lives.  There’s an underlying theme of running from God, and painful reality that once you start, you will never be able to stop.”

Whistle blows telling me this is my last chance
To hitch a ride back to free
And change my destituted circumstance
The station rolls up real slow
Gives me time to think
To stay in comfort’s lap
Or give up everything   to follow you

The trainman is calling all aboard
It’s time I start chasing a place that I can afford
Cause following is costly when you can’t control your end
I’ll pay the toll, trainman let the engine run red

This morning I got the call
Of what you had up your sleeve
Told me to love lose forgive
Then lay down my grief and love again
It should be no surprise
That she would do this to me
My momma told me she’s no good
But you say go hold out my heart and watch it bleed

Either way one man must die
My skin and bones may sing
But my soul will burn inside

Trust and Nails
“simply put, this is a song about Jesus and what He did on the cross for all of us.  The fact that nails didn’t hold Him down, His trust in His Father and His Father’s plan did.”

Walk up that hill
Pushed on by hate
Declaring your love
You sured up our fate
You were laid there held down
By trust and nails
And when the sky went black
It seemed that good had failed

But no no you didn’t come to let me down
No no you didn’t lose your throne and crown
No no you didn’t stay there on that cross
Or in the ground you paid the way
Where I was lost now I’m found

So many will say what’s the big deal
It was a long time ago why should I feel
Any different than the next don’t we all breathe the same
Is there life through a cross
And hope in my pain

If love was an act
And a tree had to die
There’s a vine in it’s place
And a gift of new life

We all need
“this song is a call to the church. It’s my prayer that we will see this lived out.  We are in dangerous times and it’s of the utmost importance that our hearts are joined by the truth and love Jesus.”

Come now brothers and sisters join hands join hearts
Come now children of God let love be our start
As our prayers go out for one another
May your call ring true
May our actions fall in line with all we say we do

Cause we all sometimes need the hand of a brother
And we all sometimes need the love of a friend
Let us all carry on the burden of another
As we live one song of love that has no end

Come now all you weary trouble worn
Feel our arms embrace you condemnation no more
Songs of freedom from a past that’s kept you in chains
Songs of love for a future full of hope and grace

You 3
“ this is a song about the trinity.  It speaks to each beautiful One of our God.  So unique and so intricate.”

I call you Father and rightfully so
You formed me before this world I had known
Put your seal upon me and marked me as your own
And now as your son I’m kneeling at your throne

So who you are is unique and it’s wonderful to know
Such an intricate God loves me as His own

I call you Jesus Messiah and rightfully so
Twas your blood that saved me and purchased my soul
From the love of the Father the Word became flesh
I’m now your friend you’re my righteousness
You lived like a peasant and breathed as a king
Traded you life for sheep with broken wings
And when the sheep walked away you loved them the same
And now here we are and you take our blame

I call you Holy Spirit and rightfully so
You live beneath my skin inhabit my soul
You lead me to truth I could never know
You help me remember I am not alone
To the outside observer it may just be me
But in this sanctuary it’s myself and you three
You come down surround all of me
And I’m lost in the presence of the blessed trinity