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7 in 7, Day 7: “All Of History Is Changed”

All of history, every second of every day, hinges on the moment when Jesus Christ came into the world.  I imagine the heavenly hosts held their breath, waiting for the moment when the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.  Not the best demo ever - one rough take, but I’m tired.  :-)

Lowly gentle Jesus, Son of God and Man
The angels lead Your welcoming, condemned no more we stand
Humble, sinless servant, God Immanuel
He left His place, oh gift of grace, with us now to dwell

Hallelujah He is here!
All of history is changed!
The Word of God made flesh appears
And forever He will reign, and forever He will reign
Jesus reigns!

Behold the simple starlight that tells us of His birth
Light of the world, Bright Morning Star, hope of all the earth
Born in humble stable, Messiah, Prince of Peace
Bow your head and witness Christ the newborn King
He is Christ the newborn King 

Hallelujah He is here!
All of history is changed!
The Word of God made flesh appears
And forever He will reign, and forever He will reign
Jesus reigns! 

So we sing “Welcome! Welcome!”
All creation holds its breath
For our King has overcome
Behold the babe who conquers death!

Hallelujah He is here!
All of history is changed!
The Word of God made flesh appears
And forever He will reign

Hallelujah He is here!
All of history is changed!
The Word of God made flesh appears
And forever He will reign, and forever He will reign
Jesus reigns! 

Lowly gentle Jesus, Son of God and Man
The angels lead Your welcoming, condemned no more we stand 

7 in 7, Day Six: “Ready To Vanish”

This is my favorite of this year’s 7-in-7 I think.  I had about 8 people tell me within a week that I HAD to read John Steinbeck’s “East Of Eden”.  My wife read it in, like, 5 days.  Annie is a big reader and when she told me it was the best book she’s ever read, I knew she wouldn’t think so lightly.  So I read it and was blown away.  I won’t try and do it injustice in the few words I have here.  Just go pick it up for yourself.  ”Ready To Vanish” is inspired by the story; here’s a quick demo.

Well I’ve lived here since I was a boy
This town ingrained in my skin
But we buy justice with violence & war
So don’t follow me in

Every time the sky fills with clouds
I assume my time has come
The stores are closed & my money’s no good
But I can’t get my legs to run

Sing “ohh!”
Sing “ohh!”

Well I’ve looked evil straight in the eye
She lives in a house without gates
In the back room she hides from the light
And comes outside when it rains

You can taste it in the soil and our fruit
The undercurrent of disease
But this town is madness down to its roots
We do whatever we please

Sing “ohh!”
Sing “ohh!”

There’s a marching that comes on the wind
I feel it trapped in my veins
And we buy justice with violence & war
But don’t expect the same

So if “you may” or if “you may not”
We’re all Able, we’re all Cain
Everyday attacked but not destroyed
Killing our sorrow with shame

Sing “ohh!”
Sing “ohh!”
Sing “ohh!”
Sing “ohh!”

There was a time I seem to recall
It was not this way somehow
I keep trying to remember it all
But that memory’s long faded now 

7 in 7, Day Five: “Another Chance”

Sometimes it all goes awry.  I love short little songs where the music feels happy but the lyrics are sad.  There’s a certain naivety about that that I like, and this character feels kind of like a poor sap to me.  Quick demo version.

In the dog days of August
When the sun it stays up late
It tarries for a minute longer
Before it makes its great escape

I look back on my decisions
And all the things I should have said
If it’s to you a disappointment
Know that I meant the opposite

And I hope we meet again…

But for now goodnight
Goodnight and pray the morning comes so fast
For now goodnight
Tomorrow is another chance

You wore those earrings of silver
Two tiny owls upon your ears
And if I regret my lack of wisdom
Those two haunting birds have made it clear

And I hope we meet again…

But if not goodnight
Goodnight and I will pray this soon makes sense
But if not goodnight    (definitely should be “But if not goodbye” instead!)
Tomorrow is another chance 
Tomorrow is another chance 

7 in 7, Day Four: “Nothing Is As It Seems”

The wisdom of this world is foolishness, and even my mind thinks about things incorrectly when they seem perfectly logical.  And the older I get, the less I know.

When everything you learn all along the way
Is revealed for what it is in the light of day
You can hold your anthem close, so strict and stubbornly
But soon enough you’ll run out of luck and be swept downstream

And I know nothing is as it seems
I know nothing
I know nothing that I once did
I know nothing

I can’t align my mind that what is weak is strong
Because this sin is so far in, it seeps into my bones

And I know nothing is as it seems
I know nothing
I know nothing that I once did
I know nothing

Well if you could hold my hand, I would let you drown
Because my crippled heart believes what is upside down

And I know nothing is as it seems
I know nothing
I know nothing that I once did
I know nothing
I know nothing
I know nothing 

7 in 7, Day Three: “Lions”

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Old Testament this year, and have really been challenged and grown, seeing Jesus Christ on every page of the Old Testament.  ”Lions” is inspired by the visions in the book of Daniel, and the idea of a Lion standing tall that defeats the small lions on our behalf, and the power that gives His followers.  Also used is the inspiring Isaiah 30:18-22.

Oh…

And I saw the writing on the wall
Ten thousand men could not heed the call
And pacing the halls: the lions chase us all

Oh…

I saw a man alight upon the air
And I fell facedown of my sins aware
With claws to scrape and tear, a Lion holds my stare 

Oh…

And like the dream that had brought me here
Quietly wait for the bringing near
Lion with sword and spear whispering in your ear

Oh… 

7 in 7, Day Two: “Of Me And You”

There is no place I’d rather be than walking with Annie through life, even when times are tough.

When we were young enough to understand love
We held onto what we had like it belonged to us
With diamonds on your mind and rubies in your hands
We both drew the line and held up our fists toward the wind

When I was old enough to bury my head
From waves that came crashing down upon what you’ve built
Like a seal upon my soul, and coal touched to my lips
I held your heart so gently it fit in my fingertips

And there’s nowhere I’d rather be
Than lost out here with you
These broken busted teeth
Will remind us what we’ve been through
The wearied song and stumbling along of me and you

Well the days go passing by, and it seems so slow
And I wish I had back half of what I’ve let go
There’s a story in my mind that seems so hard to write
And I hope we don’t let our memory drift and pass us by

And there’s nowhere I’d rather be
Than lost out here with you
These broken busted teeth
Will remind us what we’ve been through
The wearied song and stumbling along of me and you

I love you I love you I love…
I love you I love you I love…
I love you I love you I love…
I love you I love you I love…
The wearied song and stumbling along of me and you 

7 in 7, Day One: “One Day Soon”

A couple of weeks after my wife and I got married, her father passed away.  More than I’ve ever experienced before, I realized how broken this world is.  And things are not right.  It is not how it is supposed to be.  Isaiah 25 (“He will swallow up death forever”) and Revelation 21 (“Behold, I am making all things new”) were huge passages for Annie & I in that time.  We have prayed so often, “Jesus, come quickly”.  It may feel like a long time, but it will be soon, and we wait.

This will not go on forever
One day soon the clocks will turn back
And the sky will open up, and the earth will crumble down
And we see everything that we’ve lost

This will not be broken always
When we take hold of what has been paid
And everything restored and tears are wiped away
We will come into a new place

Hold on, it won’t take long
Til we see Him face to face
There is hope for what we broke
And forgiveness…
So hold on

One day soon will come our Savior
On the clouds with peals of thunder
And death is swallowed up and the souls of men laid bare
For that day and that place we wait

Hold on, it won’t take long
Til we see Him face to face
There is hope for what we broke
And forgiveness…
So hold on

This will not go on forever