Saturday, December 20, 2008

Six.

“Traveler’s Tales (Passing Through)”

We’ve been wandering this desert for far too long now
Seems like we can’t find our home, we haven’t found our home.
We’ve seen miracles and things unspeakable
Yet we’ve settled in - wandering this foreign land
We’ve walked miles and miles and we’re still so far from home
So pardon the dust, pardon my far off look, but
Someday we will walk across that threshold and hear…

Welcome home,
So long since I’ve seen your face
I can see you’re not the same
My, how you’ve changed,
what a test you’ve been through
Refined – now the gold shines through
So welcome home.

You ran off early, so young and ready to tell us what and how,
Guess you needed some experience, guess you know now
You’ve suffered some cuts on the blade of this world’s knife
You’ve tasted the treachery of the “easy” life,
Now bleeding, staggering, you’ve stumbled back
Though you’ve lost all you had, though you’ve nothing left
This is still a place where you can find rest, so...

Welcome home,
So long since I’ve seen your face
I can see you’re not the same
My, how you’ve changed,
what a test you’ve been through
Refined – now the gold shines through
So welcome home.

We’ve each got our own journey, our own path to take.
No matter how fast we run, it won’t get us any closer to home
Spending so much time here, but still strangers in this place
One thing we’ve yet to learn, this life is for the passing through.
We get weathered and tested until we’re ready to fly
And one day, when we’re called, we can give it a try
And hear the words with more meaning than we ever knew…

Welcome home,
So long since I’ve seen your face
I can see you’re not the same
My, how you’ve changed,
what a test you’ve been through
Refined – now the gold shines through
So welcome home.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Now it's time for silly songs with Brian

If you're familiar with Veggie Tales, you're familiar with the title above...so on my way to work I was thinking and the following came to mind. Yeah, strange, I get it. I don't know if it flows well...but hey...nobody's perfect.

"Revised Ramblings of a Rubber Duck"

“Quack” he said to me that morning,
I would have expected no other greeting
It’s always tough conversing with a duck
And he wasn’t expecting this meeting

He’d been around, you could see the signs
A little worse for the wear,
Hard water stains near his eyes
From the sink to the tub, from the tub to the pool
He had even spent some time covered in drool

Rubber Ducky, you used to be the one
But Ernie grew up and had his fun
Whatcha gonna do now? Whatcha gonna be?
So many questions, but “Quack” was all he’d say to me.

A tough nut to crack this particular rubber yellow ducky
Feeling alone and down on his lucky.
But finally he opened up…with a quack and a gurgle,
And a plop, plop, splat he spilled the beans
On his life on the streets of sesame,
Ernie, Bert, Big Bird and the Crew,

Rubber Ducky, you used to be the one
But Ernie grew up and had his fun
Whatcha gonna do now? Whatcha gonna be?
So many questions, when we talked, the ducky and me.

He told of the time, he got soap in his eye,
Elmo left him in the tub for a week,
It took forever to get dry.
There were still marks here and there,
From where the monster’s had gotten confused,
Even Cookie left a mark or two.

Rubber Ducky, you used to be the one
But Ernie grew up and had his fun
Whatcha gonna do now? Whatcha gonna be?
So many questions, when we talked, the ducky and me.

But that wasn’t why he’d called me here,
That’s not all he had to say…he’d had other adventures,
Like the time he was on a pirate ship.
Him and Frito, and the action figure named Chip,
Sailing the ocean, the seven seas,
Or at least sailing the tub in Studio B.

Oh the inside scoop, the hidden secrets,
Are what he wanted to share that day…
But singing those – those aren’t for me
For that you’ll have to buy his biography.

Rubber ducky, you used to be the one,
But Ernie grew up and had his fun
Whatcha gonna do now? Whatcha gonna be?
So many questions, read the biography.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Four.

I'm not sure this one met my vision for it - but I think it may still be my favorite so far. I can actually hear it in my head...it's a shame that I can't translate what I hear in my head to my guitar. Anyways - I hope you like it. As always - I'm open to suggestions.

“If You Could See Me Now”

If you could see me now
My eyes bright and new.
A new life this day.
Oh the experience I’ve yet to see
The things to learn, things to explore
With wide eyes I am sure – its all so new
If you could see me now.

If you could see me now
Would you know this man?
Would you look into these eyes
And come to understand
The depth of this love, the change in me
Should be easy to see
If you could see me now.

If you could see me now
You’d rejoice with me I’m sure.
That I’ve got a clue of what life’s about
God’s gave me yet another day
To continue to work it out.
You’d be overjoyed at the promises
Made and kept without a doubt
If you could see me now.

If you could see me now
Could you see the way,
God has worked, through life’s bends and turns.
Could you see how it’s all worked out
In oh so many ways
Could you see in every step, the wonder of God’s grace,
If you could see me now.

If you could see me now
You could see the scars that remain
The marks of wounds, long healed now
Permanently placed on this earthly frame
The detailed scars of lessons learned
And mistakes I have made
If you could see me now.

If you could see me now
Your heart might break
And that would be a shame.
Time takes its toll, struggling through
The damages and hurts to our temporary home.
We lose some things, along the way
That remind us all the same.
This is not our home, we don’t belong here
And soon we will go.
If you could see me now.

If you could see me now
I’d just be in your way.
Don’t let me block the view
Of him who drew you back to his name
The lamb was slain to take your sins
And his promises remain.
Oh such joy, such love as this,
The glory of His name
Can you see him now…

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Three...

"Sing"

He said “hey there friend, could you come sit a while with me,
I could use someone to talk to; do you have a moment free?
It’s been dark, it’s been cold being where I’m at –
I may not be proud of the ground that I’ve tread…
the steps I’ve walked on, Or way I’ve spent my time.
But the light still shines, it still breaks through on the cloudiest of days,
And in the quietest of moments, I can still hear a sweet melody…

So sing me a song,
A song of love, faith, and hope,
One of devotion and sacrifice
A song of caring and concern stretching wide
Holding tight no matter the price,
Sing me a song.

It’s hard to watch the news these days
Six o’clock, 11, or midnight’s the same –
Similar pictures just put in a different frame
But even in these dark and desperate days.
The sky is not falling – never has, never will,
Even though the world seems to be spiraling out of control -
We reach for the guardrail, and yearn for something good.
Something we can cling to, something we can hold to.

So sing me a song,
A song of love, faith, and hope,
One of devotion and sacrifice
A song of caring and concern stretching wide
Holding tight no matter the price,
Sing me a song.

Think it over…it may not be the tune you recall,
Think it over…it may just be that you can sing along.

Sing me a song.
A song of love, and faith, and hope,
One of devotion and sacrifice
Of caring and concern stretching wide
Holding us tight no matter the price
Sing me a song.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

More Excitement...if you enjoy this sort of thing.

It's funny, these things don't often finish how they started...again - open for comments.

“19 Years”

November 1989, for you it could have been a different place and time.
But on some day, on some drastic hour – you’ve faced some Ghost or chased your way across what you thought was life’s greatest challenge to your heart and mind.
But life broke through, like a ray through the clouds, and now you’re standing here today.

After 19 years, you’d think I’d have figured this thing out
Instead I’m scratching my head though these words as I set them out
You never expect to walk so far down life’s path
To turn and see how little progress you’ve made

After all these years, have I become the man you’d always dreamed I’d be?
Would you know or even recognize me? I’d like to think much has changed
I’d like to think you’d be amazed at the way this has played out.
Could you have pictured God’s work as it stands?
Life can certainly find its way after so many years.

After 19 years, you’d think I’d have figured this thing out
Instead I’m scratching my head though these words as I set them out
You never expect to walk so far down life’s path
To turn and see how little progress you’ve made

Darkness and danger, triumph and grace.
There came a man who would walk in our place –
He set an example by walking our road.
So go forth, walk tall, lead like a man.
Oh how little it is that we understand.
19 years of walking this road, yet millions and millions of miles to go.

After 19 years, you’d think I’d have figured this out
Instead I’m scratching my head though the Word you set out.
I’m sure we never expected to walk so far down this path,
To look and see how little progress we’ve made.

Who is this, in the moonlight – whispering a prayer
God are you listening, can you hear me out there?
Help me get this right, help me live what I believe.
Let me lead these in my care to rest at your feet.
If it takes ‘till tomorrow or another 19 years
Let me look back and remember you leading the way.

After 19 years, you’d think I’d have figured this out
Instead I’m scratching my head though the Word you set out
I need to keep walking farther down your path,
It’s no surprise how much progress there is to make.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Okay, So....

Sometimes I like to write - but for the past several months, my creativity has been on life support. Well, I took the opportunity to put a pencil to a piece of paper the other day...I can't say I particularly like this one...but I'm open to suggestions...
If you don't find it exciting then I apologize for the false advertisement.

“Christmas”

This ain’t about sleigh bells, trees, gifts, or toys
This ain’t about pop guns, treats, or good girls and boys
This ain’t about carolers or the songs that they sing
This ain’t about twelve days of ridiculous gifts, a reindeer lighting the foggy night sky,
or a snowman who’s hat gives him life.

This is about a small baby child
Born a miraculous gift of reconcile
A divisive event in the history of man
A decisive event in God’s ultimate plan.
It’s about Christmas – Love came down to all
It’s about Christmas – Overcoming Man’s fall
It’s about Christmas – God’s love for his world
It’s about Christmas – It’s about Christmas

This ain’t about tradition, donations, or family time,
Though there certainly is nothing wrong with those things,
This ain’t about ornaments, twinking lights, or yard works of art
This ain’t about movies, games or magic
In fact to think it is so would be rather tragic

This is about a small baby child
Born a miraculous gift of reconcile
A divisive event in the history of man
A decisive event in God’s ultimate plan.
It’s about Christmas – Love came down to all
It’s about Christmas – Overcoming Man’s fall
It’s about Christmas – God’s love for his world
It’s about Christmas – It’s about Christmas

This ain’t about the north pole, elves, fruitcakes, or vacation
This ain’t about turkey, ham, roast beef, or feasts…
Perhaps those are some of your favorite things.
It’s not even about Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, or wise men,
Though their part in the story is certain

No, this is about the Glory of God
The mercy of His riches and the depth of his love
This is about the coming of a Messiah
The only begotten Son
This is about Jesus Christ – born in flesh and blood
It’s about Christmas – Love came down to all
It’s about Christmas – Overcoming Man’s fall
It’s about Christmas – God’s love for his world
It’s about Christmas – It’s about Christmas

Monday, November 17, 2008

Something Exciting...

I think I have something fairly exciting planned for this blog over the next several weeks...if it works out. Yeah, I know, that's a big if, and you could be headed for disappointment. You'll just have to wait and see.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Silence

Have you ever thought about what a paradox silence can be?

Why is it that with someone you are unfamiliar with, silence can be one of the most awkward thing imaginable...while with close friends, sometimes silence can be one of profound understanding?

Funny thing is...with a complete stranger, you think - what could we possibly have to talk about - while with close friends, there is typically a lot you could talk about.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Oddity of Fashion

There are some things that are a big deal to people. There are some things that can mean the difference between self-confident and self-conscious. One of those things is hair. Some people have it, and some don't. Some wish they weren't losing it, and some wish they knew what to do with it. Some dye it, some grease it, and some should wash it - but undeniably, hair is a fashion oddity. I mean, think about it. What other substance shares the unique status of hair - a dead substance that people actively wear, primp, worry about, and strive to keep on their heads. Amazing.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Crazy Times

You may have thought this post would be about the world we live in, or the economy, or the elections...expecially with a title like crazy times. Boy were you off. I was just thinking to myself, a bit down the road there's a place called Medieval Times...for somewhere around 40 bucks per person, you can eat with your hands in the dark while watching a live show about Knights and castles and such there.

What if there was a place called Crazy Times - what would one expect to see there. I mean, given what passes for normal these days...what could possibly be involved with a "crazy times" show? I don't know about you...but just the idea paying 40 bucks to eat with your hands in the dark while watching a live show is not something I would consider a "normal" or regularly practiced idea.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Pick a letter - any letter....

If there was a hall of fame for letters, which letter do you think would be inducted first and why?

My guess would be X. Ask any kid, there's only two words used as an example for x. Usually it's either xylophone or x-ray. Xenomorph, surprisingly never makes the list.

So there you have it, the award goes to X in my opinion - for the sheer lack of words that begin with our two-crossing-lined friend.

Congratulations X. You've earned it. Just do us a favor and don't celebrate by hanging out two more X friends...that could get awkward. None of us wants to see "alphabet gone wild".

Saturday, November 1, 2008

If you saw this image on a sign while you were driving...what would come to mind?

Watch out for people in big dresses?

Nope. There's an amphitheater. Yeah, that's what I would have gotten too.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Just so you know...

Not all the words you find here will have deep life long implications. If you know me, and you've followed me anywhere across these internet social networking sites, then I shouldn't have to tell you this - but for any newcomers...consider yourself warned.

First Post

Everything has a beginning - and this is that beginning at find-the-words.blogspot.com
More will follow...