Big John

 I’m pausing my practice of writing a poem 

Instead I’m writing a song 

Big John didn’t budge, he was the chief judge 

Around him you knew right from wrong 

Big John, I loved that man 

Big John, I admired that man 

If he’s in the room, party had a boom 

For friends & family he’d do all he can 

I’m not saying he’s perfect, We  know that ain’t true 

He’s human, got natural flaws

One things for certain,  fall of the final curtain 

Showed he was a man with a cause 

Big John, I loved that man 

Big John, I admired that man 

If he was in the room, party had a boom 

For friends & family he’d do all he can 

Big John, I loved that man 

Big John, I admired that man 

If he was in the room, party had a boom 

For friends & family he’d do all he can.

Habakkuk 3:19

The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to tread on the heights.

Both Lazarus and Zion

 Thank you Lord, I bow  in praise 

I’m alive, I once was dead 

I deserve a grave, instead You gave 

A crown upon my head 

You loved Lazarus, You love me too

Of Judah, You are The Lion

Called us out with trumpet shout 

I’m both Lazarus and Zion

We once were dead, truly still 

He called and set us free 

We’ll rise to reign, see Christ again 

Both Lazarus and me 

Greatest story ever told 

Forever being told 

We’re made to serve, we hold our nerve 

His story from of old 

You loved Lazarus, You love me too

Of  Judah, You are The Lion

Called us out with trumpet shout 

I’m both Lazarus and Zion

You loved Lazarus, You love me too

Of  Judah, You are The Lion

Called us out with trumpet shout 

I’m both Lazarus and Zion.

Revelation 5:10

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

No sin in Him

How we’re part of  righteousness, Simple, sinful Saints 

Only God can hear above the din 

Being the Creator, knowing all that’s later 

He knew He had to come down and be sin 

Jesus has no Synonym 

Jesus has no sin in Him

In Jesus, like no other 

Lord, Saviour, Brother 

We are tempted people, all in different ways 

In our heart of hearts we know we’re weak

Jesus too was tempted,His gains for us preempted 

Now in Him you’ll find what all you seek

Jesus has no Synonym 

Jesus has no sin in Him

In Jesus, like no other 

Lord, Saviour, Brother 

Jesus has no Synonym 

Jesus has no sin in Him

In Jesus, like no other 

Lord, Saviour, Brother.

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin.

Warrior not my identity

 I Can't fight my way to identity, God knows I've tried 

Jesus is my standing 

My person's predated, my mission's mandated

My humility He's handing

Jesus now my life, I'm hidden in Him 

My mindset has changed from war 

Warrior to servant, my hope is fervent 

In Him I'll get through the door 

Because of His love, His obedience to death 

I am now changed somehow 

All of the fights, claiming my rights 

More than what God will allow

Jesus now my life, I'm hidden in Him 

My mindset has changed from war 

Warrior to servant, my hope is fervent 

In Him I'll get through the door 

Jesus now my life, I'm hidden in Him 

My mindset has changed from war 

Warrior to servant, my hope is fervent 

In Him I'll get through the door.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death —

even death on a cross!

We’re all gifted

 As I sit and marvel 

Blessed beyond belief

I’m truly thankful for all You’ve done

What with all the madness, several signs of sadness

Blessed we’re able to bring back to The One

Handle all He cares for 

In truth it’s everything 

This one comes and that one goes 

In His time all lives sing 

It’s hard where we’re finite

We don’t know what gifts we bring 

We think we’re near it, can’t quite hear it

Heaven hears all of us sing

Handle all He cares for 

In truth it’s everything 

This one comes and that one goes 

In His time all lives sing 

Handle all He cares for 

In truth it’s everything 

This one comes and that one goes 

In His time all lives sing.

1 Corinthians 7:7

I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

One name

 All the best cowboys are known by one name 

Hondo, Buster, & Colt

Tough, mean, no in between 

Faced with a fight they don’t bolt

There is one name above every other 

His name is our greatest story 

Down on a knee Every cowboy can see 

Jesus, both Brother and Glory

Hondo was right  when he said lead the way

His team knew he was talking ‘bout cattle

Christ’s team is us, accept without fuss

Our drive is a hard fought battle 

There is one name above every other 

His name is our greatest story 

Down on a knee Every cowboy can see 

Jesus, both Brother and Glory

There is one name above every other 

His name is our greatest story 

Down on a knee Every cowboy can see 

Jesus, both Brother and Glory.

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Vice disguised as Virtue

 I’m waiting to see what God has for me 

I’m waiting to see what God has for me 

I’m guilty 

I’m guilty 

I’ve let the root of bitterness in 

Can’t excuse my swearing just ‘cause I’m on course 

Underneath vice lurks wish to win

I shouldn’t let what’s happening make my Light dim 

Instead I should focus, forgive, and follow Him

What’s with all the winning 

Another  notch upon my belt 

If I just keep on sinning 

My obedience ain’t heartfelt 

I’m looking, searching around for joy

My heart can’t again be lost 

I learn again that vice is sin 

Christ is both virtue and cost.

Matthew 5:37

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

El Shaddai remains the same

 God Almighty remains the same 

Almighty 

We change, shrink, return to dust 

God remains 

Almighty 

El Shaddai, your years will never end 

You are a mighty King 

All Your ways have been revealed 

Our response: to sing

Sing we will, forevermore 

All nations, tribe, and tongue

True and just You paved the path 

All sin on Christ was hung 

Trust in Christ, He’s our King 

Down To Earth He came 

He’s unshaken, don’t be mistaken 

El Shaddai remains the same.

Hebrews 1:12

You will roll them up like a robe;

like a garment they will be changed.

But you remain the same,

and your years will never end.”

Revelation 15:3-4

and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,

Lord God Almighty.

Just and true are your ways,

King of the nations.

Who will not fear you, Lord,

and bring glory to your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come

and worship before you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Psalms 21:7

For the king trusts in the LORD;

through the unfailing love of the Most High

he will not be shaken.

Let’s Count consume as well as Produce

 Didn’t really want to write this 

So sick of consumption 

Crucial, however, for every endeavour 

Need energy to function 

Ain’t no need to worry, ain’t no need to fret 

God is our prize as well as shield

He keeps us, clothes us, even shows us 

Known forever all the ways we’re healed 

We ain’t gotta worry ‘bout what kind of food we eat 

Ain’t no need to worry ‘bout what we wear 

He’s already fought the battle, already won the war 

We’re bandaged up and healing, covered in care 

Lets change  the focus from trade imbalance

How tribes increase or reduce 

What matters most, our heavenly Host 

Let’s Count consume as well as Produce 

Isn’t it interesting,  mind blowing even

Perfect number is seven

Christ’s resurrection pencils perfection 

Be back to take His number to Heaven 

Ain’t no need to worry, ain’t no need to fret 

God is our prize as well as shield

He keeps us, clothes us, even shows us 

Known forever all the ways we’re healed

Ain’t no need to worry, ain’t no need to fret 

God is our prize as well as shield

He keeps us, clothes us, even shows us 

Known forever all the ways we’re healed.

Genesis 15:1

The LORD’s Covenant With Abram

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,

your very great reward. ”

Matthew 6:25

Do Not Worry

6:25-33pp — Lk 12:22-31

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Revelation 21:1

A New Heaven and a New Earth

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

Let it play out

 Waiting’s never fun, Ain’t easy either 

At times you feel  like you might bust 

We strive to plan ahead, for all we know we’re dead 

The way to wait is to stay in tune with Trust

Let it play out 

Let it all play out 

Just sit back and watch what He can do 

Let it play out 

Let it all play out 

End o’days you find your ways are few 

We run and work and struggle 

Our hearts Can’t fathom late 

We take our own trail through the woods 

Our twists and turns set straight 

Let it play out 

Let it all play out 

Just sit back and watch what He can do 

Let it play out 

Let it all play out 

End o’days you find your ways are few 

Let it play out 

Let it all play out 

Just sit back and watch what He can do 

Let it play out 

Let it all play out 

End o’days you find your ways are few.

Proverbs 16:9

In their hearts humans plan their course,

but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Twice dead

 Second death is no joke, it's judgement 

Are you waiting, He's waiting for you 

He brings salvation, induces damnation 

Your choice to wait with the few 

Avoid love feasts, don't be the reef

Some things you just say never 

Feast without fear, uprooted up here

Utter darkness down there forever 

Don't be the wild wave, casting up foam 

It's a short, sharp span to your shame

Don't be star that wanders, be person that ponders 

How best to wait in Jesus' name?

Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Jude 1:12-13

12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

You gotta be blue to bring the blues

 God wants humility

Ain’t no need for proud

When we need cares He stops and stares 

Our lives are cranked up loud 

He hears, He sees 

When our hearts are humbled 

‘Spose that means our hearts He cleans 

Means more than mouths are mumbled 

You gotta be blue to bring the blues 

To Him means everything 

To you and me, we just can’t see

Our alms are us we bring 

Pays to be blue to bring the blues 

Looks like your dues are paid 

Once thought evolved, now see revolved 

We ain’t evolved, we’re made 

Pick up that piece, crank up your voice 

He hears what all we do 

When you’re bringing  blues to Him 

Pays to be a lil’ bit blue

You gotta be blue to bring the blues 

To Him means everything 

To you and me, we just can’t see

Our alms are us we bring 

You gotta be blue to bring the blues 

To Him means everything 

To you and me, we just can’t see

Our alms are us we bring.

Psalms 51:17

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart

you, God, will not despise.

Culmination

 Our whole lives lead to this point 

Each breath on earth preempted

Don’t lose hope, peer past the pope

Our Lord himself was tempted

On each turn a heart is beating 

Human nature’s force

He sees each run, knows all that’s done 

The One completed course 

See we’re not all, it’s all y’all 

We’re all up in His race

Mankind, some see, some blind 

All over time and space 

Each of us, through ages, have thought “it’s me”

Problem peering past self 

Til you’re faced with The One who shaped the sun

It dawns  you’re not on the shelf

If your heart beats, He’s using you 

He’s plans for you to follow 

He’s run the race, set the pace

Rock solid, others are hollow 

Others there are, all around just see 

Trying to pull you off course 

It ain’t God, truth be told, accuser of old 

If you fall get back on your horse 

God’s there to help you, Pick you up dust you off 

He’s done that for Israel for ages 

He’s crafty and cunning, racers keep running 

We see life is made up of stages 

Some stages are tiresome,  others are free

Are we missing information 

When all’s said and done, it’s His race  we’ve run

Christ is the culmination. 

Hebrews 2:18

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

The gift of time

 War is a waste

Our most precious gift

Lives of people so matter

To seek all it costs,  to line up the lost

Have to be mad as a hatter

Lay down your arms and sing 

Just set down your guns and sing

Your choice to be wise, your heart in God's eyes

He’s teaching us all to just sing 

What are we doing when we put our arms down 

To whom are we actually yielding 

To God and His way, this act will say

All lives are actually worth shielding 

Lay down your arms and sing 

Just set down your guns and sing

Your choice to be wise, your heart in God's eyes

He’s teaching us all to just sing 

Lay down your arms and sing 

Just set down your guns and sing

Your choice to be wise, your heart in God's eyes

He’s teaching us all to just sing.

Psalms 90:12

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.